Lung transplantation for connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease: Clinical outcomes compared to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Lung transplantation can be lifesaving for patients with end-stage interstitial lung disease (ILD) related to connective tissue disease (CTD). However, patients with CTD-related ILD (CTD-ILD) are designated as a high-risk group for lung transplant complications due to the potential extrapulmonary manifestations of CTD.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective age-matched cohort study of 34 patients with CTD-ILD and 34 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who underwent lung transplantation between January 2015 and March 2023.

Sustained Molecular Allograft Injury After Episodes of Acute Rejection and Organizing Pneumonia Increases the Risk of Lung Allograft Failure.

Background: Despite treatment of major risk factors such as acute rejection (AR) and organizing pneumonia (OP) in lung transplant recipients, chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) still develops at high rates, suggesting that traditional methods of assessing response to treatment and resolution remain inadequate. It is unknown whether the degree of molecular allograft injury after treatment of AR/OP modulates the risk of CLAD and death.

Methods: To evaluate the association of molecular allograft injury after AR/OP with the incidence of CLAD/death, we conducted a multicenter prospective cohort study that included 93 patients who underwent lung transplantation between 2015 and 2022.

Lung transplant outcomes for recipients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, by use of alpha-1 antitrypsin augmentation therapy.

Background: For patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, AAT augmentation therapy can be an important part of care. However, for those who require a lung transplant (LT), there is currently only limited information to guide the use of AAT augmentation therapy post-LT.

Methods: We identified all LT recipients from 2011-2021 in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients with an AAT deficiency diagnosis.

Lung Transplantation Outcomes and Peritransplant Sirolimus Use in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

Background: With the introduction of sirolimus as medical therapy for lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), an updated evaluation of LAM lung transplant (LT) outcomes and characterization of peritransplant sirolimus use is needed.

Methods: We identified adult LT recipients from 2005-2021 using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database and stratified by diagnosis (LAM vs other). Multivariable Cox regression was performed to calculate the adjusted hazard ratio for LAM vs other diagnoses.

Viewpoint: Pre- and post-lung transplant considerations for patients with ultra-short telomere length.

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Racial disparities in lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis in the era of highly effective modulator therapy.

Background: Highly effective modulator therapies (HEMT) including ivacaftor (IVA) and elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) have transformed treatment for people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). However, non-HEMT-responsive mutations are more common in pwCF of non-White race/ethnicity; introduction of HEMT might have exacerbated racial/ethnic disparities in CF care.

Methods: Using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we identified all lung transplant candidates and recipients 05/2005-12/2022 and categorized them by diagnosis (CF/non-CF), race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White/Black/Hispanic) and era [Pre-HEMT (2005-1/30/2012), IVA (1/31/2012-10/30/2019), ETI (10/31/2019-12/31/2022)].

Basiliximab induction immunosuppression and lung transplant outcomes: Propensity analysis in a multicenter cohort.

Background: Basiliximab induction immunosuppression is increasingly employed in lung transplant recipients despite limited prospective evidence to support its use in this population. We sought to determine the relationship between basiliximab induction and development of acute rejection, chronic lung allograft dysfunction, and other clinically relevant outcomes in a multicenter lung transplant cohort with variable induction practice patterns.

Methods: We applied propensity-based statistical methods to rigorous, prospectively collected longitudinal data from 768 newly transplanted adult lung recipients at 5 North American centers (368 who received basiliximab induction immunosuppression and 400 who received no induction immunosuppression).

Prognosis and Risks for Probable Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) hinders lung transplant success. A 2019 consensus refined CLAD diagnosis, introducing probable or definite CLAD based on persistence of lung function decline. Outcomes and risks for probable CLAD remain uncertain.

Identification and validation of a threshold for early posttransplant bronchoalveolar fluid hyaluronan that distinguishes lung recipients at risk for chronic lung allograft dysfunction.

Background: Few tools exist for the early identification of patients at risk for chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). We previously showed hyaluronan (HA), a matrix molecule that regulates lung inflammation and fibrosis, accumulates in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and blood in CLAD. We aimed to determine if early posttransplant HA elevations inform CLAD risk.

Outcomes of single vs double lung retransplantation in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Patients requiring lung transplant for cystic fibrosis (CF) may require retransplant due to limited graft survival and otherwise excellent life expectancy. Optimal transplant strategy for this population, including single vs double lung retransplant, has not been established.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (UNOS/OPTN) database to identify adult lung retransplant recipients from 2005 to 2021 with a primary diagnosis of CF.

Baseline Lung Allograft Dysfunction After Bilateral Lung Transplantation Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Death: Results From a Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: A prior single-center, retrospective cohort study identified baseline lung allograft dysfunction (BLAD) as a risk factor for death in bilateral lung transplant recipients. In this multicenter prospective cohort study, we test the association of BLAD with death in bilateral lung transplant recipients, identify clinical risk factors for BLAD, and assess its association with allograft injury on the molecular level.

Methods: This multicenter, prospective cohort study included 173 bilateral lung transplant recipients that underwent serial pulmonary function testing and plasma collection for donor-derived cell-free DNA at prespecified time points.

National utilization, trends, and lung transplant outcomes of static versus portable ex vivo lung perfusion platforms.

Background: This study compared utilization and outcomes of the 2 widely utilized ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) platforms in the United States: a static platform and a portable platform.

Methods: Adult (age 18 years or older) bilateral lung-only transplants utilizing EVLP between February 28, 2018, and December 31, 2022, in the United Network for Organ Sharing database were included. Predischarge acute rejection, intubation at 72 hours posttransplant, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at 72 hours posttransplant, primary graft dysfunction grade 3 at 72 hours posttransplant, 30-day mortality, and 1-year mortality were evaluated using multivariable regressions.

Organizing pneumonia is associated with molecular allograft injury and the development of antibody-mediated rejection.

Background: The association between organizing pneumonia (OP) after lung transplantation with the development of acute rejection (AR) remains undefined. In addition, molecular allograft injury, as measured by donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA), during episodes of OP and its relationship to episodes of AR, chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), or death is unknown.

Methods: This multicenter, prospective cohort study collected serial plasma samples from 188 lung transplant recipients for dd-cfDNA at the time of bronchoscopy with biopsy.

The Impact of Donor Smoking on Primary Graft Dysfunction and Mortality after Lung Transplantation.

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is the leading cause of early morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation. Prior studies implicated proxy-defined donor smoking as a risk factor for PGD and mortality. We aimed to more accurately assess the impact of donor smoke exposure on PGD and mortality using quantitative smoke exposure biomarkers.

The effect of allograft ischemic time on outcomes following bilateral, single, and reoperative lung transplantation.

Objective: To determine whether allograft ischemic times affect outcomes following bilateral, single, and redo lung transplantation.

Methods: A nationwide cohort of lung transplant recipients from 2005 through 2020 was examined using the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network registry. The effects of standard (<6 hours) and extended (≥6 hours) ischemic times on outcomes following primary bilateral (n = 19,624), primary single (n = 688), redo bilateral (n = 8461), and redo single (n = 449) lung transplantation were analyzed.

Uptake and 1-year outcomes of lung transplantation for COVID-19.

Objective: End-stage lung disease from severe COVID-19 infection is an increasingly common indication for lung transplantation (LT), but there are limited data on outcomes. We evaluated 1-year COVID-19 LT outcomes.

Methods: We identified all adult US LT recipients January 2020 to October 2022 in the Scientific Registry for Transplant Recipients, using diagnosis codes to identify recipients transplanted for COVID-19.

Outcomes of Lung Transplant Candidates Aged ≥70 Years During the Lung Allocation Score Era.

Background: With the increasing age of lung transplant candidates, we studied waitlist and posttransplantation outcomes of candidates ≥70 years during the Lung Allocation Score era.

Methods: Adult lung transplant candidates from 2005 to 2020 in the United Network for Organ Sharing database were included and stratified on the basis of age at listing into 18 to 59 years old, 60 to 69 years old, and ≥70 years old. Baseline characteristics, waitlist outcomes, and posttransplantation outcomes were assessed.

Early United States experience with lung donation after circulatory death using thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion.

Thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP) has recently begun being utilized in the United States for recovery of cardiothoracic allografts from some donors after circulatory death (DCD), but data on lungs recovered in this method is limited to case reports. We conducted a national retrospective review of lung transplants from DCD donors recovered using TA-NRP. Of the 434 total DCD lung transplants performed between January 2020 and March 2022, 17 were recovered using TA-NRP.

Invasive fungal infections after respiratory viral infections in lung transplant recipients are associated with lung allograft failure and chronic lung allograft dysfunction within 1 year.

Background: Respiratory viral infections (RVI) are associated with chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) and mortality in lung transplant recipients (LTRs). However, the prevalence and impact of secondary invasive fungal infections (IFIs) post RVIs in LTRs have not been investigated.

Methods: We performed a single center retrospective study including LTRs diagnosed with 5 different respiratory viral pathogens between January 2010 to May 2021 and evaluated their clinical outcomes in 1 year.

Trends in use and three-year outcomes of hepatitis C virus-viremic donor lung transplants for hepatitis C virus-seronegative recipients.

Objective: The feasibility and 6-month outcome safety of lung transplants (LTs) from hepatitis C virus (HCV)-viremic donors for HCV-seronegative recipients (R-) were established in 2019, but longer-term safety and uptake of this practice nationally remain unknown.

Methods: We identified HCV-seronegative LT recipients (R-) 2015-2020 using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. We classified donors as seronegative (D-) or viremic (D+).

Prognostic implications of and clinical risk factors for acute lung injury and organizing pneumonia after lung transplantation: Data from a multicenter prospective cohort study.

We determined prognostic implications of acute lung injury (ALI) and organizing pneumonia (OP), including timing relative to transplantation, in a multicenter lung recipient cohort. We sought to understand clinical risks that contribute to development of ALI/OP. We analyzed prospective, histologic diagnoses of ALI and OP in 4786 lung biopsies from 803 adult lung recipients.