Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis

Last revised by Yaïr Glick on 4 Jun 2023

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) is a rare, benign entity. About half of the cases are thought to be idiopathic, with the other half secondary to underlying diseases or conditions (e.g. transplantation). Idiopathic cases belong to the group of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis is considered a rare disorder; however, it is very likely both under-recognized and misdiagnosed 5. The median age at presentation in reported cases approximates the 5th decade of life, with age distribution likely bimodal 8:

  • early peak in the 3rd decade

  • late peak in the 6th decade

​No gender predilection has been reported, and patients are most often non-smokers 2,4,8

Most often significant chronic respiratory symptoms, which may include:

  • non-productive cough

  • dyspnea, either on exertion or in a worsening course

  • angina

  • frequent airway infections

Signs may include:

  • pneumothorax

  • positive autoimmune titers

  • reduced lung function of a mixed (obstructive and restrictive) pattern (reduced forced expiratory in 1st second (FEV1), reduced forced vital capacity (FVC), reduced diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO))

The pathophysiology is unknown. Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis is characterized by predominantly upper lobe pleural and subjacent parenchymal fibrosis (the latter being intra-alveolar with accompanying elastosis of the alveolar walls). 

The etiology remains unknown. Familial cases have been reported, especially in young women 8.

Roughly half of the cases occur as a sequela of lung transplantation 6,8 or bone marrow transplantation 8,10. About one-tenth might even be drug-induced by chemotherapy 8

When no clear cause is found it is then termed idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (IPPFE). 

Typical features include the abundance of short, curled, and randomly oriented elastic fibers, resulting in elastic fibrosis of the visceral pleura. These may be identifiable on standard hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stains, however elastic fiber stains (e.g. Elastica van Gieson (EVG)) may be useful in cases of doubt.

Some authors suggest repeated inflammatory damage in a predisposed individual may lead to a pattern of intra-alveolar fibrosis with septal elastosis (IAFE) 20.

Chest radiographs may be normal or present non-specific findings comprising:

Optimally performed as high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the lung, it may depict:

Other accompanying chest wall features include

  • platythorax: often denoted by the presence of a deep suprasternal notch and/or posterior retraction of the trachea

One case has been described (c.2011), presenting as a hypermetabolic pulmonary nodule on 18F-FDG-PET with associated hypermetabolic axillary lymphadenopathy 7.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis usually shows a progressive clinical course and carries a poor prognosis. There is currently no specific therapy. Medical options with steroids, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, N-acetylcysteine, azithromycin, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim may all be tried. In progressive cases, lung transplantation may be required.

Postprocedural pneumothorax and/or bronchopleural fistula are often seen and may even raise clinical suspicion of this underlying entity 5,8.

It is thought to have been first described as idiopathic pulmonary upper lobe fibrosis in 1992 in Japanese literature by Aminati et al. 16 and thought to have been first described in an English paper by S K Frankel et al. in 2004 2.

For the relatively rare combination of both pleural and interstitial fibrosis, differentials may include 5,8:

ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads

Updating… Please wait.

 Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.