Effect of telomere length on survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: an observational cohort study with independent validation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Short telomere lengths are found in a subset of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, but their clinical significance is unknown. Our aim was to investigate whether patients with various blood leucocyte telomere lengths had different overall survival.

Methods

In this observational cohort study, we enrolled patients with interstitial lung disease from Dallas, TX (primary cohort), and from Chicago, IL, and San Francisco, CA (replication cohorts). We obtained genomic DNA samples from unrelated healthy controls in Dallas, TX, and spouses of patients were also enrolled as an independent control group. Telomere lengths were measured in genomic DNA samples isolated from peripheral blood obtained at the time of the initial enrolment assessment. The primary endpoint

SUBMITTER: Stuart BD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4136521 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature