Is lung transplantation a valuable therapeutic option for patients with pulmonary polymyositis? Experiences from the Leuven transplant cohort.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most critical complications associated with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). If medical treatment fails, the only option is lung transplantation (LTx), however, this is still controversial mainly because the outcome is unknown. This case series compared patients with IIM who underwent transplantation in the University Hospitals of Leuven among a total of 90 LTxs for ILD between January 2004 and August 2013. From the 5 IIM patients with associated ILD there were 4 males and 1 female. The mean age at transplantation was 54.4 ± 4.3 years. Three patients underwent sequential single lung (SSLTx) and 2 underwent single lung transplantation (SLTx). Their mean pre-LTx % predicted forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) was 42.8 ± 7.5%, forced vital capacity (FVC) was 49.8 ± 9.6%, total lung capacity (TLC) was 60.8 ± 8.1%, and transfer coefficient for carbon monoxide (DLCO) was 35.1 ± 9.3%. Mean 6-minute walking test (SMWT) before LTx was 316.0 ± 146 meters. In one patient there was an acute rejection (AR) after 20 days. No lymphocytic bronchiolitis (LB) nor chronic rejection was observed. The 1-year survival rate was 100%, and the 2- and 5-year survival rates were 75% (follow-up period of 32.6 ± 4.4 months) compared with 86%, 67%, and 58%, respectively, for patients undergoing LTx for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (follow-up period of 35.2 ± 3.9) and 86%, 63%, and 57%, respectively, for patients undergoing LTx for non-IPF non-IIM ILD (follow-up period of 40.6 ± 20.5 months). LTx could be a valid option in well-selected patients with ILD related to IIM, yielding a good postoperative course and acceptable 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates, compared with patients undergoing LTx for IPF and non-IPF non-IIM-related ILD.

Azithromycin and the treatment of lymphocytic airway inflammation after lung transplantation.

Lymphocytic airway inflammation is a major risk factor for chronic lung allograft dysfunction, for which there is no established treatment. We investigated whether azithromycin could control lymphocytic airway inflammation and improve allograft function. Fifteen lung transplant recipients demonstrating acute allograft dysfunction due to isolated lymphocytic airway inflammation were prospectively treated with azithromycin for at least 6 months (NCT01109160). Spirometry (FVC, FEV1 , FEF25-75 , Tiffeneau index) and FeNO were assessed before and up to 12 months after initiation of azithromycin. Radiologic features, local inflammation assessed on airway biopsy (rejection score, IL-17(+) cells/mm(2) lamina propria) and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (total and differential cell counts, chemokine and cytokine levels); as well as systemic C-reactive protein levels were compared between baseline and after 3 months of treatment. Airflow improved and FeNO decreased to baseline levels after 1 month of azithromycin and were sustained thereafter. After 3 months of treatment, radiologic abnormalities, submucosal cellular inflammation, lavage protein levels of IL-1ß, IL-8/CXCL-8, IP-10/CXCL-10, RANTES/CCL5, MIP1-α/CCL3, MIP-1ß/CCL4, Eotaxin, PDGF-BB, total cell count, neutrophils and eosinophils, as well as plasma C-reactive protein levels all significantly decreased compared to baseline (p < 0.05). Administration of azithromycin was associated with suppression of posttransplant lymphocytic airway inflammation and clinical improvement in lung allograft function.

Body mass index in lung transplant candidates: a contra-indication to transplant or not?

BACKGROUND: According to International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation criteria, high body mass index (BMI; ≥ 30 kg/m(2)) is a relative contraindication for lung transplantation (LT). On the other hand, low BMI may be associated with worse outcome. We investigated the influence of pre-LT BMI on survival after LT in a single-center study. METHODS: Patients were divided according to the World Health Organization criteria into 4 groups: BMI <18.5 kg/m(2) (underweight), BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m(2) (normal weight), BMI 25-29.9 kg/m(2) (overweight), and BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2) (obesity). An additional analysis was made per underlying disease. RESULTS: BMI was determined in a cohort of 546 LT recipients, of which 28% had BMI <18.5 kg/m(2). Underweight resulted in similar survival (P = .28) compared with the normal weight group. Significantly higher mortality was found in overweight (P = .016) and obese patients (P = .031) compared with the normal-weight group. Subanalysis of either underweight (P = .19) or obese COPD patients (P = .50) did not reveal worse survival. In patients with interstitial lung disease, obesity was associated with increased mortality (P = .031) compared with the normal-weight group. In cystic fibrosis patients, underweight was not associated with a higher mortality rate (P = .12) compared with the normal-weight group. CONCLUSIONS: Low pre-LT BMI did not influence survival rate in our cohort, independently from underlying disease.

Mortality in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: a prospective cohort analysis.

INTRODUCTION: There is limited data on mortality and associated morbidity in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB). Our aim was to analyze the overall mortality for all newly diagnosed patients from June 2006 onwards and to evaluate risk factors for mortality in this cohort. METHODS: 245 patients who had a new diagnosis of NCFB between June 2006 and October 2012 at the University Hospital of Leuven, Belgium, were included in the analysis. Death was analyzed until end of November 2013. All patients had chest HRCT scan confirming the presence of bronchiectatic lesions and had symptoms of chronic productive cough. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard survival regression analysis was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) of variables possibly predicting mortality. RESULTS: Overall mortality in NCFB patients who had a median follow-up of 5.18 years was 20.4%. Patients with NCFB and associated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had a mortality of 55% in that period. Univariate analysis showed higher mortality according to age, gender, smoking history, Pseudomonas aeruginosa status, spirometry, radiological extent, total number of sputum bacteria and underlying etiology. Multivariate analysis showed significant higher mortality with increasing age (HR = 1.045; p = 0.004), with increasing number of lobes affected (HR = 1.53; p = 0.009) and when patients had COPD associated NCFB (HR = 2.12; p = 0.038). The majority of the 50 deaths were respiratory related (n = 29; 58%). CONCLUSION: NCFB patients with associated COPD disease had the highest mortality rates compared to the other NCFB patients. Additional risk factors for lower survival were increasing age and number of lobes affected.

Pirfenidone: a potential new therapy for restrictive allograft syndrome?

This case report describes the evolution of pulmonary function findings (FVC, FEV1 and TLC) and CT features with pirfenidone treatment for restrictive allograft syndrome following lung transplantation. Furthermore, we herein report hypermetabolic activity on (18) F-FDG PET imaging in this setting, which could indicate active fibroproliferation and pleuroparenchymal remodeling. These findings may warrant further investigation.