[Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis -- progress in sight].

The review presents the main aspects of a new international statement on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), therapeutic trials with a new drug, pirfenidone, and a new Finnish IPF register. It is desirable to have patients reported to the register with the best possible coverage in order to obtain a view about the prevalence of the disease in Finland. In the future, the register can be utilized to standardize the diagnostics and treatment of IPF, and to rapidly launch therapeutic trials and investigations with new drugs.