Extracorporeal photopheresis as second-line treatment therapy in life-threatening primary graft dysfunction following lung transplantation.

ABSTRACT

ECP is an established "second-line" treatment for CLAD/BOS. Recently, ECP was used for the first time in an adolescent CF patient as a "second-line" treatment therapy in life-threatening primary graft dysfunction following lung transplantation who deteriorated despite extensive treatment including ECMO and ATG. Within 10 days after initiation of ECP twice weekly, allograft function and clinical status improved significantly and the patient was weaned from mechanical ventilation support. ECP has been continued every 2 weeks since. Two hundred days after lung transplantation, the patient has an acceptable allograft function (FEV1 67%) and no signs of allograft rejection. We advocate that use of ECP and its immunomodulatory effects should be evaluated in the early period following lung transplantation.