Autoantibody Reduction Therapy in Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Inclusion Criteria: Ambulatory patients with a diagnosis of IPF, not established \>5 years from the enrollment date, that fulfills American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Thoracic Society (ETS) Consensus Criteria. Ability and willingness to give informed consent. Presence of autoantibodies against Hepatoma-2 (HEp-2) cells, the assay for the primary endpoint. Age 50-85 y.o. Exclusion Criteria: Diagnoses of current infection, proven or suspected by participating physicians based upon their clinical assessments. Presence of active hepatitis B or C, or HIV infection. Presence of positive CONVENTIONAL autoimmune serologic tests, e.g., Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA), Rheumatoid Factor (RF), Anti-Ro, Anti-LA, Anti-Ribonucleoprotein Antibodies (RNP), Anti-Jo-1. History of reaction to murine-derived products or any of the trial medications, or prior exposures to human-murine chimeric antibodies. Malignancy, excluding basal or squamous cell skin cancer and low-risk prostate cancer, defined as stage T1 or T2a with Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) less than 10 ng/dl. Unwillingness to complete post-treatment surveillance for 9 months. Diagnosis of major morbidities (aside from IPF) expected to interfere with subjects' study participation for 9 months. Treatment for \>5 days within the preceding month with \>10 mg. prednisone (or equivalent corticosteroid) or any treatment during the preceding month with a potent cellular immunosuppressant (e.g., cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, mycophenolate, azathioprine, calcineurin inhibitors, etc.). Uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension that preclude safe treatment with methylprednisolone. Concurrent participation in other experimental trials. Pregnancy or unwillingness to use contraception during the duration of the study among female participants with child-bearing potential. Ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) \<70% of predicted values.