The Role of TGF-ß in the Association Between Primary Graft Dysfunction and Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome.

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a possible risk factor for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) following lung transplantation; however, the mechanism for any such association is poorly understood. Based on the association of TGF-ß with acute and chronic inflammatory disorders, we hypothesized that it might play a role in the continuum between PGD and BOS. Thus, the association between PGD and BOS was assessed in a single-center cohort of lung transplant recipients. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid concentrations of TGF-ß and procollagen collected within 24 h of transplantation were compared across the spectrum of PGD, and incorporated into Cox models of BOS. Immunohistochemistry localized expression of TGF-ß and its receptor in early lung biopsies posttransplant. We found an association between PGD and BOS in both bilateral and single lung recipients with a hazard ratio of 3.07 (95% CI 1.76-5.38) for the most severe form of PGD. TGF-ß and procollagen concentrations were elevated during PGD (p < 0.01), and associated with increased rates of BOS. Expression of TGF-ß and its receptor localized to allograft infiltrating mononuclear and stromal cells, and the airway epithelium. These findings validate the association between PGD and the subsequent development of BOS, and suggest that this association may be mediated by receptor/TGF-ß biology.

Communication gaps associated with donor-derived infections.

The detection and management of potential donor-derived infections is challenging, in part due to the complexity of communications between diverse labs, organ procurement organizations (OPOs), and recipient transplant centers. We sought to determine if communication delays or errors occur in the reporting and management of donor-derived infections and if these are associated with preventable adverse events in recipients. All reported potential donor-derived transmission events reviewed by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Ad Hoc Disease Transmission Advisory Committee from January 2008 to June 2010 were evaluated for communication gaps between the donor center, OPO and transplant centers. The impact on recipient outcomes was then determined. Fifty-six infection events (IEs; involving 168 recipients) were evaluated. Eighteen IEs (48 recipients) were associated with communication gaps, of which 12 resulted in adverse effects in 69% of recipients (20/29), including six deaths. When IEs and test results were reported without delay, appropriate interventions were taken, subsequently minimizing or averting recipient infection (23 IEs, 72 recipients). Communication gaps in reported IEs are frequent, occur at multiple levels in the communication process, and contribute to adverse outcomes among affected transplant recipients. Conversely, effective communication minimized or averted infection in transplant recipients.

CXCR3 chemokine ligands during respiratory viral infections predict lung allograft dysfunction.

Community-acquired respiratory viruses (CARV) can accelerate the development of lung allograft dysfunction, but the immunologic mechanisms are poorly understood. The chemokine receptor CXCR3 and its chemokine ligands, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 have roles in the immune response to viruses and in the pathogenesis of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, the predominant manifestation of chronic lung allograft rejection. We explored the impact of CARV infection on CXCR3/ligand biology and explored the use of CXCR3 chemokines as biomarkers for subsequent lung allograft dysfunction. Seventeen lung transplant recipients with CARV infection had bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) available for analysis. For comparison, we included 34 BALF specimens (2 for each CARV case) that were negative for infection and collected at a duration posttransplant similar to a CARV case. The concentration of each CXCR3 chemokine was increased during CARV infection. Among CARV infected patients, a high BALF concentration of either CXCL10 or CXCL11 was predictive of a greater decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s, 6 months later. CXCR3 chemokine concentrations provide prognostic information and this may have important implications for the development of novel treatment strategies to modify outcomes after CARV infection.

Screening and treatment of chagas disease in organ transplant recipients in the United States: recommendations from the chagas in transplant working group.

Donor-derived transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, has emerged as an issue in the United States over the past 10 years. Acute T. cruzi infection causes substantial morbidity and mortality in the posttransplant setting if not recognized and treated early. We assembled a working group of transplant infectious disease specialists, laboratory medicine specialists, organ procurement organization representatives and epidemiologists with expertise in Chagas disease. Based on review of published and unpublished data, the working group prepared evidence-based recommendations for donor screening, and follow-up testing and treatment of recipients of organs from infected donors. We advise targeted T. cruzi screening of potential donors born in Mexico, Central America and South America. Programs can consider transplantation of kidneys and livers from T. cruzi-infected donors with informed consent from recipients. However, we recommend against heart transplantation from infected donors. For other organs, we recommend caution based on the anticipated degree of immunosuppression. Our recommendations stress the need for systematic monitoring of recipients by polymerase chain reaction, and microscopy of buffy coat and advance planning for immediate antitrypanosomal treatment if recipient infection is detected. Data on management and outcomes of all cases should be collected to inform future guidelines and to assist in coordination with public health authorities.

Systemic sclerosis and bilateral lung transplantation: a single centre experience.

Lung involvement is the leading cause of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc), but lung transplantation (LT) for systemic disease remains controversial. Our objective was to comprehensively evaluate post-LT outcomes for SSc compared to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We retrospectively evaluated bilateral LT recipients (LTRs) with SSc or IPF at our centre between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2007. The primary end-point was all-cause mortality at 1 yr post-LT. Secondary end-points included assessments of acute rejection (AR), pulmonary function, infection and chronic rejection. 14 patients with SSc and 38 patients with IPF underwent LT. Apart from a younger SSc cohort (53.2 versus 58.8 yrs; p = 0.02), the two groups were well matched. 1-yr all-cause mortality was no different between SSc (6.6%) and IPF (13.1%) groups, after adjusting for age (p = 0.62). Rates of (AR) ≥2 were significantly increased for the SSc compared with the IPF group (hazard ratio (HR) 2.91; p = 0.007). Other end-points, including chronic rejection, infection and pulmonary function, showed no differences. SSc LTRs experience similar survival 1 yr post-LT when compared to IPF. AR rates may be significantly higher in the SSc group. Longer follow-up is necessary to determine the effects of gastrointestinal dysfunction and AR on late allograft function in SSc LTR.

Periostitis secondary to prolonged voriconazole therapy in lung transplant recipients.

We report five cases of possible drug-induced periostitis associated with long-term use of voriconazole therapy after lung transplantation (LT). The diagnosis of periostitis was made by the documentation of bone pain, elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase and characteristic findings on radionuclide bone imaging in the absence of any identifiable rheumatologic disease. This periostitis appears similar to hypertrophic osteoarthopathy (HOA) but does not meet all criteria for HOA. In all patients, the symptoms resolved rapidly after discontinuation of voriconazole therapy. Awareness of this potential syndrome, which manifests as bone pain, elevated serum alkaline phosphatase and a bone scan suggestive of periostitis, is necessary in LT recipients on long-term voriconazole.

Aspergillus colonization of the lung allograft is a risk factor for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome.

Multiple infections have been linked with the development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) post-lung transplantation. Lung allograft airway colonization by Aspergillus species is common among lung transplant recipients. We hypothesized that Aspergillus colonization may promote the development of BOS and may decrease survival post-lung transplantation. We reviewed all lung transplant recipients transplanted in our center between January 2000 and June 2006. Bronchoscopy was performed according to a surveillance protocol and when clinically indicated. Aspergillus colonization was defined as a positive culture from bronchoalveolar lavage or two sputum cultures positive for the same Aspergillus species, in the absence of invasive pulmonary Aspergillosis. We found that Aspergillus colonization was strongly associated with BOS and BOS related mortality in Cox regression analyses. Aspergillus colonization typically preceded the development of BOS by a median of 261 days (95% CI 87-520). Furthermore, in a multivariate Cox regression model, Aspergillus colonization was a distinct risk factor for BOS, independent of acute rejection. These data suggest a potential causative role for Aspergillus colonization in the development of BOS post-lung transplantation and raise the possibility that strategies aimed to prevent Aspergillus colonization may help delay or reduce the incidence of BOS.

Pulmonary hypertension associated with lung transplantation obliterative bronchiolitis and vascular remodeling of the allograft.

Pathologic obliterative bronchiolitis (OB)/Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (pathologic OB/BOS) is the major obstacle to long-term survival post-lung transplantation (LT). Our group has demonstrated that pulmonary hypertension (PH) complicates the course of chronic inflammatory lung diseases that have similarities to pathologic OB/BOS and that vascular remodeling of the bronchial circulation occurs during BOS. Consequently, we hypothesized that PH is associated with pathologic OB/BOS and may result from a vasculopathy of the allograft pulmonary circulation. We conducted a single-center, retrospective study and examined the presence of PH and vasculopathy in patients with pathologic OB/BOS. Fifty-two pathologic specimens post-LT were recovered from January 10, 1997 to January 5, 2007 and divided into two groups, those with and without pathologic OB/BOS.PH was defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) > 25 mmHg by right heart catheterization (RHC) or right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) > or = 45 mmHg by transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). PH was more prevalent in those LT recipients with pathologic OB/BOS (72% vs. 0%, p = 0.003). Furthermore, pulmonary arteriopathy and venopathy were more prevalent in patients with pathologic OB/BOS (84% vs. 4%, p < 0.0001, and 77% vs. 35%, p = 0.004, respectively). PH is common in LT recipients with pathologic OB/BOS and is associated with a vasculopathy of the allograft pulmonary circulation.

Altered levels of CC chemokines during pulmonary CMV predict BOS and mortality post-lung transplantation.

Pulmonary CMV infection (CMVI) and disease (CMVD) is associated with reduced long-term survival post-lung transplantation, however, the specific biologic mechanisms remain unclear. We have demonstrated a role of CC chemokines during lung allograft dysfunction. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that pulmonary CMV upregulates the expression of multiple CC chemokines that leads to allograft dysfunction and decreased long-term survival. We performed a nested case control study in lung transplant recipients to investigate alterations in CC chemokine biology during pulmonary CMV. Levels of CC chemokines were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from recipients with CMVI (n = 33), CMVD (n = 6), and in healthy lung transplant controls (n = 33). We found a trend toward increased levels of MIP-1alpha/CCL3 during pulmonary CMVI. Levels of MCP-1/CCL2 and RANTES/CCL5 were significantly elevated during pulmonary CMV. Interestingly, elevated levels of CCL3 in BALF were protective with regards to survival. Importantly, elevated levels of CCL2 in BALF predicted the development of BOS, while elevated levels of CCL5 in BALF predicted an increase in mortality post-lung transplant. Altered levels of specific CC chemokines during pulmonary CMV are associated with future clinical outcomes. These results suggest a possible utility of BALF CC chemokines as biomarkers for guiding risk assessment during pulmonary CMV post-lung transplantation.

Fungal infection in lung transplantation.

Fungal infection remains a significant cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality in lung transplant recipients. The lung recipient remains the only solid-organ allograft continuously open to the environment and to the myriad of fungal spores and pathogens. Many factors may predispose to fungal infection in these patients, including: preoperative chronic lung diseases and inherent palliative immunosuppression, intraoperative complications such as abnormalities in the bronchial anastomosis or lung injury, and postoperative complications such as enhanced immunosuppression for early rejection, graft dysfunction, concurrent viral and bacterial infections, and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. The risk factors and time course for fungal infection in lung transplant recipients parallel the observations in other solid-organ transplant recipients. Early fungal infections are related to surgical complications, while the period of 1-6 months reflect opportunistic, relapsed, or residual infections; fungal infections greater than 6 months and thereafter are usually associated with treatments for chronic rejection or bronchial airway mechanical abnormalities. The majority of fungal infections in lung transplant recipients involve Aspergillus species, followed by Candida, Pneumocystis, Cryptococcus, geographically-restricted agents, and newly emerging fungal pathogens. The identification of at-risk patients (preoperatively and postoperatively) is essential in implementing prophylaxis or preemptive management. Some anti-fungal strategies and future options for clinical research are discussed.

Clinical cases in transplantation.

A series of cases are presented to illustrate the complexity of the care of immunocompromised patients with established invasive fungal infections. These discussions by an expert panel serve to identify areas of controversy and for future research in the care of transplant recipients.

Aspergillosis of the testis in a renal transplant recipient.

Aspergillus is ubiquitous worldwide. It is found primarily in soil, dust, vegetation, and decaying matter. While disseminated aspergillosis affects the testis only 1% of the time, testicular aspergillosis in the absence of disseminated disease is exceedingly rare, as demonstrated in the present case report.

Coccidioidomycosis in liver transplant patients.

Eight (0.59%) of 1,347 patients who underwent liver transplantation at the UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles) developed coccidioidomycosis. Whereas only one case occurred during the first 8 years and 10 months of the UCLA Liver Transplant Program (February 1984 to December 1992), seven cases occurred within the following 23-month period (December 1992 to November 1994). The median time of onset for infection after transplantation was 8 weeks (range, 4-312 weeks). Clinical presentations of patients with coccidioidomycosis included pneumonia (six cases), pneumonia with meningitis (one case), hepatitis (one case), and monoarticular arthritis (one case). Despite therapy with amphotericin B alone (six cases) or amphotericin B plus fluconazole (two cases), infection was fatal in four of eight cases. As of this writing, the four surviving patients are receiving chronic maintenance therapy with either fluconazole (three patients) or itraconazole (one patient). These experiences show that coccidioidomycosis can be a serious and frequently fatal infection after liver transplantation and that the incidence of this disease appears to be increasing.