Families-At-risk for Interstitial Lung Disease Study (FAR-ILD)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03641742 |
Recruitment Status :
Active, not recruiting
First Posted : August 22, 2018
Last Update Posted : July 21, 2022
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Condition or disease |
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Interstitial Lung Disease Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis |
The NHLBI has prioritized research focused on the primary prevention of chronic lung diseases, including ILD. The overall goal of this study is to conduct studies preparatory to and requisite for the testing of ILD preventative interventions.
In the current study, the investigators propose to examine the pulmonary histopathology and biology of early subclinical ILD in healthy adults with a first-degree relative with clinically diagnosed ILD. There are two currently accepted computed tomographic (CT)-based phenotypes of subclinical ILD: high attenuation areas (HAAs) and interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA). Investigators from Columbia University Medical Center have previously shown that HAA has strong construct validity as an imaging biomarker of early subclinical alveolar inflammation and fibrosis among community-dwelling adults using the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), an ongoing NHLBI-funded prospective cohort study of 6,814 adults age 45 and older at enrollment in 2000-02. Investigators found that greater HAA at baseline was independently associated with reduced lung function and exercise capacity at 5-year follow-up, exertional dyspnea at 10-year follow-up, and elevated serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). ILA is a distinct qualitative and visually-identified early ILD phenotype on CT that has also shown strong construct validity for ILD. Neither HAA nor ILA has been validated histopathologically.
The lipoprotein substudy will examine the role of high density lipoproteins in patients with ILD. Patients with IPF have previously been shown to have low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) and high levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL). Investigators have previously shown that high levels of high-density cholesterol (HDL-C) are associated with a reduction in lung injury, inflammation and fibrosis (subclinical ILD) on CT in community-dwelling adults enrolled in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. These data are consistent with animal model data showing that treatment with apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I; the main component of HDL) attenuates lung fibrosis. Investigators at Columbia University Medical Center are therefore proposing to examine the associations of HDL and its main components (apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein A-II, and paraoxonase-1) with clinical outcomes (FVC decline, death, lung transplantation and respiratory hospitalizations) and serum biomarkers of lung injury, inflammation and remodeling (SP-A, MMP-7, ICAM-1, IL-1, IL-18) in patients with ILD. Investigators will also explore the structure (using quantitative proteomics) and function (using a macrophage efflux assay and paraoxonase-1 activity assay) of HDL particles in adults with ILD and first-degree family members with subclinical ILD.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent among adults with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and maybe a risk factor based on our previous studies from MESA (https://www.mesa-nhlbi.org/) and other research studies completed at Columbia University Medical Center. Therefore, the investigators will examine the association between OSA and sub-clinical ILD in at-risk adults.
Study Type : | Observational |
Actual Enrollment : | 381 participants |
Observational Model: | Cohort |
Time Perspective: | Prospective |
Official Title: | The Families-At-risk for Interstitial Lung Disease Study |
Actual Study Start Date : | January 15, 2018 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | October 1, 2035 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | October 1, 2037 |

Group/Cohort |
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FAR-ILD Proband Participants
There will be no interventions administered to this group, only data collection.
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FAR-ILD "At-Risk" Participants
There will be no interventions administered to this group, only data collection
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- Number of subjects with histopathologically validated HAA or ILA [ Time Frame: Up to 20 years ]The visual identification of the presence of HAA or ILA on CT scan by a radiologist or pulmonologist.
Biospecimen Retention: Samples With DNA
- Tissue samples
- Airway Brushings
- Urine
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
- Buccal swab and or saliva; only if blood is unavailable.
- Blood

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 35 Years to 100 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Sampling Method: | Non-Probability Sample |
Inclusion Criteria: For "At Risk" participants without clinical ILD
- Age 35 years or older, however subjects who are 40 years old and above will undergo HRCT and subjects age 40-65 years old will be eligible to undergo bronchoscopy
- First-degree relative with one of the following clinical diagnoses:
- Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Idiopathic Non-Specific Interstitial Lung Disease (with fibrosis)
- Chronic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (with fibrosis)
- Unclassifiable Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia (with fibrosis)
- Patients with any ILD characterized by fibrosis on CT chest scan
- Ability to provide informed consent
Inclusion Criteria: For "At Risk Smoker" participants without clinical ILD
- At least 50 years of age
- Smoked at least 1 pack a day for 30 years
Exclusion Criteria: For "At-Risk" participants without clinical ILD
- Known history of interstitial lung disease
- History of illicit drug use within the past year.
- Lower respiratory tract infection in the past 90 days.
- History of chest CT scan in the past year.
- Known history of heart failure or chronic kidney or liver disease.
- Pregnancy or Lactation
Inclusion Criteria: For "Proband" participants with clinical ILD Age 18 years or older
- Has one of the following clinical diagnoses as per ATS guidelines:
- Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Idiopathic Non-Specific Interstitial Lung Disease (with fibrosis)
- Chronic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (with fibrosis)
- Unclassifiable Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia (with fibrosis)
- Patient with any ILD characterized by fibrosis on CT chest scan
- Ability to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria: For "Proband" participants with clinical ILD
- No Living 1st degree relatives.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03641742
United States, New York | |
Columbia University Irving Medical Center | |
New York, New York, United States, 10032 |
Principal Investigator: | Christine Garcia, MD, PhD | Columbia University |
Responsible Party: | Christine Garcia, Frode Jensen Professor of Medicine, Columbia University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03641742 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
AAAR1916 2R01HL103676-05 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) |
First Posted: | August 22, 2018 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | July 21, 2022 |
Last Verified: | July 2022 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Yes |
Plan Description: | Researchers will be required to submit a written request to the PI describing the use of the data. The researcher must also document institutional review board (IRB) approval. No identifiable information will be released. |
Access Criteria: | De-identified data. |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Interstitial Lung Disease Pulmonary Fibrosis |
Lung Diseases Pulmonary Fibrosis Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Lung Diseases, Interstitial |
Fibrosis Pathologic Processes Respiratory Tract Diseases |