Guest guest Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 Terre Ambrisentan is an ERA or Endothelin Receptor Antagonist. It was approved in June 2007 for the treatment of PH. It is called a selective ERA because it affects only the A receptors, whereas Tracleer/Bosentan is a Dual ERA because it affects both A and B receptors. Tracleer is the most prescribed PH medication at this point with Revatio probably second. I have not yet run across anyone prescribed Ambrisentan. Now, as to PF, all these ERA's are in one type or another clinical trial at this point. As to your IPF, I'm not yet clear on how it was diagnosed and by whom? If it's just from an abdomen CT, I'd sure want more done. Have you been to the IPF center at the University of Miami? I ask that since you mention U of Miami for the study. As to the study, you have a 2/3 probability of the med vs. placebo and the study may run as long as three years. They are looking for people much like you with very early diagnosis and they are only requiring HRCT (no VATS requirement). However, they indicate honeycombing of less than 5%. That causes me some real question of the validity of their sample group as by HRCT honeycombing is the major indicator of IPF vs. other forms of PF. With that little honeycombing, the level of certainty of the diagnosis (as to the form of PF) would not be more than 60% or so. As to the medication, there is a believe that ERA's have a widespread application beyond PH and that PF could be one of those areas. At the least it might be preventive toward PH and might assist in the ability to exercise. We do have members who participated in the Revatio study and I know some in the Tracleer study. > > Hi all, > My name is Terre Higgs. I'm 66 year old male and was disgnosed with IPF about 1 year ago. It was fouund accidentally while doing a CT scan of my abdomen. I didn't have many symptoms. > Anyway, I noticed some peolpe mentioning sinus problems and thought I'd relay an experience that I just had with mine. I have had chronic sinus discharge into my throat for years. It always caused hacking and coughing. I wanted to stop the coughing from my sinuses to see if I was coughing beacuse of the IPF. > The usual sinus sprays for bacteria didn't do much. After investigating IPF I came across info from the Mayo clinic that 70% of sinus problems are casused by fungus. > So, I asked my GP for something for my sinuses that killed fungus. He gave my 15 pils, one a day, for systemic body fungus. It can be hard on your liver. The med was diflucanose. > In three days my sinuses stopped draining. Then in another 2-3 days it sort of started again. So I used an antibacterial spray figuring that with the fungus gone it might have given the bacteria a chance to multiply. The spray stopped the draining again. My sinuses have now been dry for over a month. I'm using an antibacterial spray in the morning and a colloidal silver spray for the fungus in the evening. > Those of you that have chronic sinus discharge might want to ask your doctor about an anti fungal treatment. > I'm aspplying next week for a study at the U of M(Miami) for ambrisentan. This is the Artimus Study. Does anyone know about this study? The med has been tested for PAH with fair results, so I'm told. They now want to test it on IPF patients. I'm just looking for anyone with info on this drug. > Thanks. > Terre Higgs > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 Hi Bruce, Thanks for the info on Ambristetan. My abdominal CT scan was followed up with one for the chest after what looked like IPF was noticed since they caught the bottom of my lungs on that first scan. I feel lucky about that part. I went to a local pulmonologist for the first lung scan and then got a second opinion at the Florida Cleveland Clinic. They both confirmed the diagnosis of IPF. It was called slight. My last scan of two weeks ago has shown a slight increase and my PFT shows a slight decrease in functions. I go the 7th of July for the application for the study and should be accepted. Right now I'm in good shape and will probably start the study to see what happens. As you said it's a 2/3 vs 1/3 chance for the medicine. They will check for arterial hypertension, plus any change in the IPF. I hope that the constant monitoring will keep me aprised of any changes. My life style will change dramatically if the IPF is increasing rapidly. I think that I spelled the anti-fungal wrong on the first posting. It was a generic of Diflucan, probably Difluconazole. I don't have the bottle anymore. Best regards, Terre > > > > Hi all, > > My name is Terre Higgs. I'm 66 year old male and was disgnosed with > IPF about 1 year ago. It was fouund accidentally while doing a CT scan > of my abdomen. I didn't have many symptoms. > > Anyway, I noticed some peolpe mentioning sinus problems and thought > I'd relay an experience that I just had with mine. I have had chronic > sinus discharge into my throat for years. It always caused hacking and > coughing. I wanted to stop the coughing from my sinuses to see if I was > coughing beacuse of the IPF. > > The usual sinus sprays for bacteria didn't do much. After > investigating IPF I came across info from the Mayo clinic that 70% of > sinus problems are casused by fungus. > > So, I asked my GP for something for my sinuses that killed fungus. He > gave my 15 pils, one a day, for systemic body fungus. It can be hard on > your liver. The med was diflucanose. > > In three days my sinuses stopped draining. Then in another 2-3 days it > sort of started again. So I used an antibacterial spray figuring that > with the fungus gone it might have given the bacteria a chance to > multiply. The spray stopped the draining again. My sinuses have now been > dry for over a month. I'm using an antibacterial spray in the morning > and a colloidal silver spray for the fungus in the evening. > > Those of you that have chronic sinus discharge might want to ask your > doctor about an anti fungal treatment. > > I'm aspplying next week for a study at the U of M(Miami) for > ambrisentan. This is the Artimus Study. Does anyone know about this > study? The med has been tested for PAH with fair results, so I'm told. > They now want to test it on IPF patients. I'm just looking for anyone > with info on this drug. > > Thanks. > > Terre Higgs > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 Hi Terre... I want to welcome you to our board. I see Bruce already replied to you with his always good information. My PF was found accidently, much like you. When I went for a second x-ray/Cscan I read Pulmonary Fibrosis on the paperwork. When I got home I went online and Wow! what a surprise to learn how serious it is. I think what you say about fungus is really interesting. I hadn't heard this before. Remember now, chances are you are not going to die next month so get acquainted with the board. All your questions have answers here. Have a good day. MamaSher; 70, IPF 3-06, OR. NasturtiumsDon't fret about tomorrow, God is already there! Sinus drainage Hi all,My name is Terre Higgs. I'm 66 year old male and was disgnosed with IPF about 1 year ago. It was fouund accidentally while doing a CT scan of my abdomen. I didn't have many symptoms.Anyway, I noticed some peolpe mentioning sinus problems and thought I'd relay an experience that I just had with mine. I have had chronic sinus discharge into my throat for years. It always caused hacking and coughing. I wanted to stop the coughing from my sinuses to see if I was coughing beacuse of the IPF.The usual sinus sprays for bacteria didn't do much. After investigating IPF I came across info from the Mayo clinic that 70% of sinus problems are casused by fungus. So, I asked my GP for something for my sinuses that killed fungus. He gave my 15 pils, one a day, for systemic body fungus. It can be hard on your liver. The med was diflucanose.In three days my sinuses stopped draining. Then in another 2-3 days it sort of started again. So I used an antibacterial spray figuring that with the fungus gone it might have given the bacteria a chance to multiply. The spray stopped the draining again. My sinuses have now been dry for over a month. I'm using an antibacterial spray in the morning and a colloidal silver spray for the fungus in the evening.Those of you that have chronic sinus discharge might want to ask your doctor about an anti fungal treatment.I'm aspplying next week for a study at the U of M(Miami) for ambrisentan. This is the Artimus Study. Does anyone know about this study? The med has been tested for PAH with fair results, so I'm told. They now want to test it on IPF patients. I'm just looking for anyone with info on this drug.Thanks.Terre Higgs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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