Cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis. A study of an indigenous African population.

Cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA) has not been described previously in any large group of indigenous African patients. This was a retrospective study of 46 such patients diagnosed as having CFA during a 73-month period. The clinical spectrum of illness was similar to that of other groups studied worldwide. Cigarette smoking was associated with a poorer outcome and is a potentially preventable cause of deterioration.