Prospects for treatment of paraquat-induced lung fibrosis with immunosuppressive drugs and the need for better prediction of outcome: a systematic review

In the absence of a validated prognostic marker, a large RCT of immunosuppression using death as the primary outcome is required and this RCT should prospectively test and validate the available prognostic methods, so that future patients can be selected for this and other therapies on admission.

Abstract

The authors of the RCT have performed valuable and difficult research, but their results are hypothesis-forming rather than conclusive; elsewhere, the use of historical controls is problematic. In the absence of a validated prognostic marker, a large RCT of immunosuppression using death as the primary outcome is required. This RCT should also prospectively test and validate the available prognostic methods, so that future patients can be selected for this and other therapies on admission.