Detrimental Association of Hypogammaglobulinemia With Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction and Death Is Not Mitigated by On-Demand Immunoglobulin G Replacement After Lung Transplantation

Background: Hypogammaglobulinemia (HGG), immunoglobulin G (IgG) <700 mg/dL, is associated with infections, chronic lung allograft dysfunction, and death following lung transplantation. This study evaluates the use of on-demand intravenous IgG in lung transplant recipients with HGG. Materials and Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study of adult lung recipients evaluated 3 groups, no, untreated (u), or treated (t) HGG at first IgG administration or a matched time posttransplant. Primary outcome was freedom from allograft dysfunction. Secondary outcomes included development of advanced dysfunction, rejection, infection burden, and mortality. Results: Recipients included 484 (no HGG: 76, uHGG: 192, tHGG: 216). Freedom from chronic allograph dysfunction was highest in the non-HGG group 2 years post-enrollment (no HGG 77.9% vs uHGG 56.4% vs tHGG 52.5%; P = .002). Freedom from advanced dysfunction was significantly different 2 years post-enrollment (no HGG 90.5% vs uHGG 84.7% vs tHGG 75.4%; P = .017). Patients without HGG and those with uHGG had less mortality at 2 years post-enrollment (no HGG 84.2% vs uHGG 81.3% vs tHGG 64.8%; P < .001). Gram-negative pneumonias occurred more often in the tHGG group ( P = .02). Conclusions: Development of chronic lung allograft dysfunction, patient survival, rejection burden, and key infectious outcomes in lung transplant recipients were still problematic in the context of on-demand IgG therapy. Prospective studies are warranted.

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Fundoplication after lung transplantation in patients with systemic sclerosis–related end-stage lung disease

Journal of Scleroderma and Related Disorders ◽

10.1177/23971983211016210 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 239719832110162

Author(s):

Miguel M Leiva-Juárez ◽

Andreacarola Urso ◽

Joseph Costa ◽

Bryan P Stanifer ◽

Joshua R Sonett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Overall Survival ◽

Systemic Sclerosis ◽

Lung Transplantation ◽

Lung Transplant ◽

Transplant Recipients ◽

Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction ◽

Allograft Dysfunction ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Lung Transplant Recipients

Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux and aspiration are risk factors for chronic lung allograft dysfunction in lung transplant recipients. Patients with systemic sclerosis are at an increased risk of aspiration due to esophageal dysmotility and an ineffective lower esophageal sphincter. The aim of this study is to understand the effect of fundoplication on outcomes in systemic sclerosis recipients. Methods: Between 2001 and 2019, 168 systemic sclerosis patients were referred for lung transplantation—51 (30.3%) were listed and 36 (21.4%) were transplanted. Recipients were stratified whether they underwent a fundoplication (n = 10, 27.8%) or not (n = 26, 72.2%). Freedom from chronic lung allograft dysfunction and survival were analyzed using log-rank test. Multivariable analysis for known risk factors was performed using a Cox-proportional hazards model. Results: Median time to fundoplication after transplantation was 16.4 months (interquartile range: 9.6–25.1) and all were laparoscopic (Dor 50%, Nissen 40%, Toupet 10%). There were no differences in acute rejection ⩾ A1 (26.9% vs 30%), or primary graft dysfunction grades 2–3 at 72 h (42.3% vs 40%) between groups. Recipients with fundoplication had an increased freedom from chronic lung allograft dysfunction (p = 0.035) and overall survival (p = 0.01). Fundoplication was associated with a reduced risk of mortality adjusting for other comorbidities (hazard ratio = 0.13; 95% confidence interval = 0.02–0.65; p = 0.014). Double and single lung transplant did not have different post-transplant survival. Conclusion: Fundoplication in systemic sclerosis lung transplant recipients is associated with greater freedom from chronic lung allograft dysfunction and overall survival. Screening for reflux and aspiration followed by early fundoplication may delay graft deterioration in this population.

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