Lung transplantation and systemic sclerosis

Ann Transplant. 2000;5(3):38-43.

Abstract

We performed lung transplantation in nine patients with Scleroderma related lung disease. Patient characteristics included: 7 (78%) females, 6 (67%) with limited and 3 (33%) with diffuse Scleroderma. Pulmonary fibrosis was present in 7 (78%) and pulmonary hypertension in 4 (44%). All patients were carefully screened by the Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland Scleroderma Center and only referred for transplantation when concomitant renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance < or = 50 ml/min), aspiration, and skin brakdown were excluded. When compared to a similar group of transplant patients with nonscleroderma lung disease (primary pulmonary fibrosis), there was no significant difference in post-transplant survival at four years (76.2 +/- 0.15% vs. 69.2% +/- 0.12%), mean annual incidence rate for acute rejection (0.14 +/- 0.14 vs. 0.47 +/- 0.13) and infection (viral 0.17 +/- 0.17 vs. 0.29 +/- 0.11) (bacterial 0.17 +/- 0.17 vs. 1.4 +/- 0.4) (fungal 0.99 +/- 0.69 vs. 0.36 +/- 0.16) or serum creatinine (1.55 +/- 0.34 mg/dl vs. 1.15 +/- 0.09 mg/dl). We conclude that lung transplantation is viable option for carefully selected patients with scleroderma related lung disease.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Contraindications
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / surgery
  • Heart Diseases / surgery
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / surgery
  • Kidney Diseases / surgery
  • Lung Diseases / surgery*
  • Lung Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / surgery
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / physiopathology
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / surgery*