All treatments controversial and of questionable efficacy
Methylprednisolone 500-1000mg QD for 3 days
Heparin drip
Alveolar injury predisposes to prothrombotic state
Prevents further vascular injury
Cyclosporine A 1-2mg/kg/day with steroids
Alveolar injury predisposes to prothrombotic state
Prevents further vascular injury
Current strategies controversial, with some contending mechanical ventilation adds insult to AE-IPF
Non-invasive may be use as a temporizing measure
Low TVs at 6 cc/kg
Permissive hypercapnea may be necessary
Maintaining minute ventilations
High respiratory rates may be necessary
Heavy sedation with possible paralysis with cisatricurium
Deviations from ARDS treatment strategies
Must restrict PEEP given to AE-IPF
No place for recruitment maneuver or prone postioning
Questionable benefit of APRV (BiVent) and high-frequency oscillation ventilation
High respiratory rates may be necessary
Heavy sedation with possible paralysis with cisatricurium
Must restrict PEEP given to AE-IPF
No place for recruitment maneuver or prone postioning
Questionable benefit of APRV (BiVent) and high-frequency oscillation ventilation
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Interstitial pneumonias 
Bronchiectasis
Lung malignancy
Sarcoidosis
Aspiration pneumonia or pneumonitis
CMV pneumonia
Bacterial, viral, or fungal pneumonia