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Three representative transverse high-resolution computed tomography of the thorax with bibasal infiltrates.
Source publication
A bilateral sequential lung transplant was performed on a young female with cystic fibrosis-related bronchiectasis. She had negative prospective T- and B-cell crossmatch, and no known donor-specific antibodies. Post-transplantation, she developed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates of uncertain etiology, compounded by persistent tachycardia and questio...
Similar publications
Data supporting the use of carfilzomib (CFZ) for treatment of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in lung transplantation in combination with plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin suggest positive outcomes through donor-specific antibody (DSA) depletion or conversion to noncomplement-activating antibodies. Herein, we describe our center's exp...
Citations
... Acute cellular rejection was defined as changes on transbronchial biopsy of ≥ International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) Grade 2, or in the absence of a biopsy an otherwise unexplained drop in lung function treated with intravenous corticosteroid (17,18). Acute antibodymediated rejection was diagnosed and managed according to Alfred Hospital protocols (19). ...
Everolimus (EVE) has been used as a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) minimization/ elimination agent or to augment immunosuppression in lung transplant recipients (LTR) with CNI-induced nephrotoxicity or neurotoxicity. The long-term evidence for survival and progression to chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) is lacking. The primary aim was to compare survival outcomes of LTR starting EVE-based immunosuppression with those remaining on CNI-based regimens. The secondary outcomes being time to CLAD, incidence of CLAD and the emergence of obstructive (BOS) or restrictive (RAS) phenotypes. Single center retrospective study of 91 LTR starting EVE-based immunosuppression matched 1:1 with LTR remaining on CNI-based immunosuppression. On multivariate analysis, compared to those remaining on CNI-based immunosuppression, starting EVE was not associated with poorer survival [HR 1.04, 95% CI: 0.67–1.61, p = 0.853], or a statistically significant faster time to CLAD [HR 1.34, 95% CI: 0.87–2.04, p = 0.182]. There was no difference in the emergence of CLAD (EVE, [n = 57, 62.6%] vs. CNI-based [n = 52, 57.1%], p = 0.41), or the incidence of BOS (p = 0.60) or RAS (p = 0.16) between the two groups. Introduction of EVE-based immunosuppression does not increase the risk of death or accelerate the progression to CLAD compared to CNI-based immunosuppression.
... Donor selection and recipient-donor matching Donor referrals routinely included extended criteria donor lungs-including age up to 75 years, ,30 pack years smoking and donation after cardiac death (DCD) donors [15,16]. Prospective donor-recipient T and B-cell lymphocytotoxic cross-matching was performed in all patients and used in concert with prior Luminex (Luminex Corp, Austin, TX, USA) identified anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies [17]. ...
Background:
Atrial arrhythmias are relatively common following lung transplantation and confer considerable perioperative risk, specifically haemodynamic instability, pulmonary congestion, dyspnoea, and can mask other post-transplant complications such as infection or acute rejection. However, for most patients, arrhythmias are limited to the short-term perioperative period.
Methods:
We present a retrospective case-control analysis of 200 lung transplant recipients and using multivariate regression analysis, document the present incidence, risk factors, and outcomes between the two groups.
Results:
Twenty-five per cent (25%) of lung transplantation patients developed atrial flutter or fibrillation, most frequently at day 5-7 post lung transplantation, and more commonly present in older recipients and those with underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but not in those with previously noted structural heart disease, or in those undergoing single rather than double lung transplants. Atrial arrhythmias were associated with increased intensive care unit and overall length of stay, but were not associated with increased risk of in-hospital stroke, or mortality. Based on our experience, we propose a suggested management algorithm for pharmacological and mechanical rate/rhythm control strategies, for anticoagulation, and discuss the appropriate duration of treatment.
Conclusions:
Atrial arrhythmias are relatively common post lung transplantation. Carefully managed, the associated risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality can be mitigated. Further prospective studies are required to validate these strategies.
Background
Australia’s increasing organ donor rate has translated to increased lung donor referrals and subsequent lung transplantation (LTx). The LTx sector attempts to utilise as many organs as possible—but in reality, not all are used. This analysis aims to assess the utility and efficiency of donor lung referrals to the Alfred Hospital.
Methods
All Donatelife Australia donor lung referrals for the year 2017 were analysed retrospectively.
Results
From a total of 440 lung referrals, 220 were local from the state of Victoria (population 6.4 million) and 220 from the Rest-of-Australia (ROA). Sixty-eight per cent (68%) of Victorian and 48% of the ROA were via the donation after circulatory death (DCD) pathway. One hundred and two (102) LTx were performed: 32 represent 21% of 149 Victorian and 8% of 106 ROA DCD donors, 70 represent 54% of the Victorian and 24% of the ROA donation after brain death (DBD) donors. Eighty per cent (80%) of all donors aged <35 and 30% >35 years were used or potentially useable. Thirteen per cent (13%) of DCD and 44% of DBD donors aged >65 years were used. Logistical and resource considerations, around the retrieval of older DCD lungs, are a significant issue. At 11.1 LTx per-million-population the Alfred has one of the highest lung donor conversion and LTx activity rates in the world.
Conclusion
The Australian donor lung pool could still be further extended by focussing effort and logistics on optimising DBD referrals. Additional resources (staff and transport), tighter referral criteria, and the use of extended warm ischaemic time donors could increase particularly DCD recovery rates.
Pulmonary antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) while contributing to acute and chronic allograft dysfunction remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The diagnostic tenets upon which AMR is defined will be reviewed in the light of recent studies.
The introduction of solid phase assays such as the Luminex platform has provided a wealth of quantitative data on the presence of anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) donor-specific antibodies (DSA). Further studies are required to better define the relationship of circulating DSA and activation of proinflammatory immune pathways that result in allograft dysfunction. The limitations of C4d staining in defining AMR are highlighted from recent studies in lung transplantation and from the 2013 Banff meeting on renal transplantation.
The current challenge to the lung transplant community is to agree on a working definition of pulmonary AMR. Only then can we better appreciate the epidemiology, clinical phenotypes, and treatment of AMR.
