Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Cerrina

Publications and source records attributed to J Cerrina.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Angiogenesis: an indicator of metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer invading the thoracic inlet.

We have attempted to identify a biologic rationale for the local aggressiveness and late treatment failure of resected non-small cell lung cancer involving the thoracic inlet. Tumor specimens from 28 patients who underwent a new transcervical approach were analyzed for the expression of tumor proliferative activity, suppressor-gene p53, intratumoral and peritumoral blood vessel invasion by tumor cells, the presence and degree of angiogenesis (induction of new capillaries and venules), and other biologic variables. Eighty-nine percent of the neoplasms were moderately or poorly differentiated, 89% expressed either an intermediate or high proliferative activity, 39% showed p53 aberrations, 71% exhibited induction of angiogenesis, and 39% had tumors that were positive for blood vessel invasion. With a median follow-up time of 3.5 years (range, 8 to 145+ months), the overall projected 5-year survival was 29% and the median disease-free interval was 23 months. Results of univariate and multivariate analysis of survival and the disease-free interval identified the degree of angiogenesis (density less than 1 versus more than 1 and number of neovessels less than 6 versus more than 6) as the only independent and significant predictors of the disease-free interval. Patients whose tumor showed a density of angiogenesis of 1 or greater and a number of neovessels of 6 or greater faced a significantly (p = 0.0001) higher relative risk of suffering systemic recurrence of their primary tumor than did their low-risk counterparts. Results demonstrate that angiogenesis significantly correlates with late treatment failure (metastasis), and this is acquired at a critical density and number of vessels.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

Extended operations after induction therapy for stage IIIb (T4) non-small cell lung cancer.

Twenty-three patients with stage IIIb (T4) non-small cell lung cancer received induction chemotherapy (median, 2 cycles) with (n = 12) or without (n = 11) radiation (median, 45 Gy) before operation. Nine tumors involved the carina (n = 8) or lateral tracheal wall (n = 1), 11 were located centrally and invaded the proximal pulmonary artery (n = 6), veins (n = 3), or both (n = 2), three were apical tumors involving T4 structures, and six were associated with histologically diseased mediastinal nodes. Five complete and 18 partial responses were observed after induction treatment. Resection of all residual tumor at the primary site and involved vestiges was possible in 21 patients (91%); in two apical tumors, tumor was left behind. Nine right tracheal sleeve and 11 intrapericardial pneumonectomies and three resections of apical tumors were performed; 11 patients (48%) had radical mediastinal lymph node dissection. Complete sterilization of the primary tumor was observed in 3 patients (13%). Mean operating time was 209.3 +/- 86.8 minutes, and mean blood loss was 896.9 +/- 1031 mL. Major postoperative complications occurred in 6 patients (26%), including hemothorax requiring drainage (n = 1) or reoperation (n = 1), acute distress syndrome (n = 2), and bronchopleural fistula (n = 2), and their incidence was significantly higher (p = 0.0003) among patients receiving induction chemoradiation than among those receiving chemotherapy alone (42 versus 9%). Early (< 1 month) postoperative mortality was 8.6% (n = 2). With a median follow-up of 25 months (range, 12 to more than 39 months), the projected 3-year overall survival was 54%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Particular phenotypic profile of blood lymphocytes during obliterative bronchiolitis syndrome following lung transplantation.

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (OBS) remains the major complication in long-term survivors with heart-lung transplants, occurring in up to 50% of patients who survived the first year postsurgery. Until now, a significant decrease in small airway flow parameters has represented the most sensitive index for the detection of early OBS. Using immunocytofluorometric analysis, in a prospective study we have analysed the phenotype of peripheral blood lymphocyte effector and regulatory subsets in seven patients with inactive well-established OBS as compared with lung transplant recipients without any complication. We found a particular phenotypic profile during well-established OBS characterized by: (1) the disappearance of the CD19+ B cell population despite normal or increased immunoglobulin blood levels; (2) a marked decrease in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio; (3) a dramatic increase in phenotypic cytotoxic effector T cells CD8+S6F1+high and CD3+CD4-CD8-; (4) a dramatic increase in the CD4+CD29+/CD4+CD45RA+ ratio associated with the loss of the phenotypic suppressor/inducer CD4+CD45RA+T cells. The results of this preliminary study suggest that, using this selected combination of lymphocyte membrane markers, sequential phenotyping could be useful in the noninvasive follow-up of lung transplant recipients. The predictive value of this phenotypic profile for the early diagnosis of OBS is under investigation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Soluble TNF receptors (TNF-sR55 and TNF-sR75) in lung allograft recipients displaying cytomegalovirus pneumonitis.

Two distinct types of tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNF-R) have been identified (TNF-R55 and TNF-R75). Both TNF-R also exist in soluble forms (TNF-sR), resulting from the release of the extracellular domains (TNF-sR55 and TNF-sR75). TNF-sR may play an important role in vivo as they can bind to TNF alpha and prevent ligand binding to the cellular TNF-R, thus acting as naturally occurring inhibitors of TNF alpha. Sera from lung allograft recipients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonitis (12 patients) were assayed for TNF-sR55 and TNF-sR75. The concentrations were compared with those from either control lung recipients displaying neither rejection nor infection (12 patients), or lung recipients with allograft rejection (12 patients). Serum TNF-sR55 and TNF-sR75 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunologic binding assay. Serum TNF-sR55 and TNF-sR75 concentrations were significantly higher during CMV pneumonitis (mean +/- SEM: 13.7 +/- 4.7 ng/ml, and 11.7 +/- 2.7 ng/ml, respectively) than during allograft rejection (3.7 +/- 0.3 ng/ml, p < 0.001, and 2.6 +/- 0.6 ng/ml, p < 0.001, respectively). They were also higher than in control subjects (3.6 +/- 0.3 ng/ml, p < 0.001, and 1.9 +/- 0.5 ng/ml, p < 0.001, respectively). Serum TNF alpha concentration was low in case of rejection or in control subjects (< 20 pg/ml). Conversely increased levels of TNF alpha were detected in the serum of six out of the 12 patients with CMV pneumonitis (p < 0.03 versus rejection and control subjects). Ganciclovir treatment of CMV pneumonitis led to a dramatic decrease of TNF alpha, TNF-sR55, and TNF-sR75 serum levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Double lung transplantation in situs inversus with Kartagener's syndrome. Paris-Sud University Lung Transplant Group.

En bloc double lung transplantation with bilateral bronchial anastomoses was successfully performed in three patients with complete situs inversus and end-stage Kartagener's syndrome. Dextrocardia was not a technical problem for institution of cardiopulmonary bypass, but a large azygos vein draining the systemic venous return was systematically preserved. The major technical difficulty was restoration of airway continuity, because patients with situs inversus have an inverse direction and length of the main stem bronchi. The right and left main bronchi of the recipients were approached in the aortocaval sinus and transected approximately at 1.5 cm from the carina. The donor right main stem bronchus was divided at its origin and the donor left main stem bronchus was divided proximal to the upper lobe takeoff. The different bronchial angulation was not an obstacle, and airway continuity was reestablished twice with an end-to-end anastomosis and once with a telescopic technique. Because of the midline position of the left atrium and pulmonary artery, the anastomoses with the respective recipient's structures were made as in patients with situs solitus. One patient required a right lower lobectomy because the position of the right side of the heart interfered with lobar expansion. One patient died of obliterative bronchiolitis 36 months after the operation. The remaining two are alive and doing well after 48 and 6 months, respectively.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Technique for resecting primary and metastatic nonbronchogenic tumors of the thoracic outlet.

Although primary or metastatic nonbronchogenic tumors infrequently arise in or involve the thoracic outlet, they represent a major surgical challenge because of their tendency to encapsulate outlet structures. Fourteen patients with a histologically proven primary (n = 8) or metastatic (n = 6) nonbronchogenic outlet tumor were treated by an anterior transcervical approach, including an L-shaped cervicotomy extended into the deltopectoral groove, resection of the internal half of the clavicle, and, in the case of tumor involvement, resection of the jugular and subclavian veins, phrenic nerve, subclavian artery, brachial plexus, and ribs. All patients underwent a radical resection. Tumors extended to bony (usually the first rib), muscular (usually the anterior scalenus muscle), and nerve (usually the phrenic nerve) outlet structures in 8, 10, and 7 patients, respectively. Ten patients had involvement of outlet vessels: 6 had simple ligature (n = 5) or wedge resection (n = 1) of the subclavian vein and related branches, 1 had revascularization of both the subclavian vein by an end-to-end anastomosis and the subclavian artery by a ringed polytetrafluoroethylene graft, 1 had revascularization of the subclavian artery alone, and 2 had revascularization between the left brachiocephalic vein and superior vena cava (ringed polytetrafluoroethylene graft). Follow-up venograms showed complete patency of the anastomoses. There was one postoperative death (7%) due to multiorgan system failure. Other complications were mild and short-lasting. With a median follow-up of 3.4 years, all patients but 1 (who had systemic progression) are alive and disease free 3 to 127 months postoperatively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Tracheoesophageal fistula caused by mycobacterial tuberculosis adenopathy.

Tracheoesophageal fistulas resulting from a Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection are uncommon. We describe a patient with such a lesion that had the radiologic and clinic appearance of a malignant tracheoesophageal fistula. Use of an anterior cervical approach with one-stage esophageal repair along with tracheal resection and anastomosis allowed definitive diagnosis and treatment of this life-threatening complication.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Frequency of mechanical ventilation and respiratory activity after double lung transplantation.

We investigated the contribution of pulmonary afferent nerve fibers to the control of inspiratory activity in awake humans. Eight double lung transplant outpatients and eight normal subjects were hyperventilated with a mechanical ventilator. Respiratory frequency was increased until no respiratory activity was detectable. Then, by either adding CO2 in the inspired gas or decreasing respiratory frequency, end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2) was increased until inspiratory activity (i.e. change in inspiratory airway pressure peak and/or time profile) was detected. In normal subjects, PETCO2 threshold for inspiratory muscle recruitment was significantly lower when frequency was decreased than when CO2 was added (31.3 +/- 6.8 Torr vs. 38.2 +/- 8.1 Torr respectively, P < 0.005). This was not the case in the double lung transplant group (31.5 +/- 6.5 Torr vs. 32.9 +/- 5.8 Torr). These findings suggest that pulmonary afferent nerves have an inhibitory effect on inspiratory activity in humans.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Laryngotracheal resection and reconstruction for postintubation subglottic stenosis. Lessons learned.

Between 1981 and June 1992, 26 consecutive patients with a postintubation subglottic stenosis (21 circumferential, 2 anterolateral) underwent the Pearson operation. Subglottic stenosis resulted from a complication of mechanical ventilation with endotracheal intubation with (n = 14) or without (n = 12) tracheostomy (median placement: 25 days). One patient had an associated laryngopharyngeal and tracheoesophageal fistula. Overall, the upper limit of the stenoses lay 1.8 +/- 0.3 cm below the vocal cords, falling in the range of 1 to 2 cm in 88% of patients; they measured 2.9 +/- 0.8 cm in length and the diameter at the level of the maximum stenotic process was 0.5 +/- 0.1 cm. Operations were performed without dissection of the recurrent nerves and plicature of the membranous trachea. Because of scarred mucosa at a higher level, one vertical section of the posterior cricoid plate with interposition of autogenous costal cartilage and 2 subtotal cricoid plate resections with stenting were necessary. The mean length of resection was 3.6 +/- 0.8 cm (range: 2-5 cm) and 88% of them ranged within 2.8 and 5 cm. Twelve thyrohyoid and 3 supralaryngeal releases were performed. Six patients required postoperative tracheostomy, but all were extubated within 24 h. Good results were obtained in 24 (96%) surviving patients; 1 failure and 1 postoperative death (sudden myocardial infarction) occurred. The results confirm that the Pearson operation is an adequate treatment for subglottic stenosis extending up to 1 cm below the vocal cords and measuring up to 6 cm in length. Dissection of both the recurrent nerves, plicature of the membranous trachea, postoperative decompressive tracheostomy and stenting are not necessary.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

In situ production of interleukin-6 within human lung allografts displaying rejection or cytomegalovirus pneumonia.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that is a regulator of inflammation and immunity. As production of IL-6 may be an important mechanism by which local and systemic inflammatory processes are regulated during lung transplantation, we measured this cytokine concentration in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) collected in 27 lung recipients. IL-6 bioactivity was analyzed using a B cell hybridoma proliferation assay (B9 cell line). Three groups of clinical situations were analyzed: control lung recipients, rejections, and CMV pneumonia. Serum IL-6 concentrations (mean +/- SEM) were 24.2 +/- 3.3 U/ml in the 26 control samples. In 20 allograft rejection episodes, the serum IL-6 concentration was higher than in control samples but the difference was not significant (59.3 +/- 20.5 U/ml, P > 0.05). IL-6 serum levels were significantly increased during the 14 CMV pneumonias (61.2 +/- 11.5 U/ml, P < 0.01). In BALF, IL-6 levels were increased during CMV pneumonia (52.4 +/- 21.9 U/ml BALF), and to a lesser extent during rejection events (14.1 +/- 3.7 U/ml BALF), as compared with controls (5.6 +/- 1.6 U/ml BALF, P < 0.005, and P < 0.05, respectively). Similar results were observed when IL-6/albumin and IL-6/urea ratios were determined so as to compensate for possible dilution effects in BALF. IL-6 in BALF was produced in situ during CMV pneumonia as shown by in situ hybridization experiments that revealed a significant number of IL-6 gene-expressing alveolar cells in this condition. IL-6 concentrations in the serum and in the BALF were compared. There was no correlation between serum and BALF IL-6 concentrations, showing that serum IL-6 levels do not accurately reflect intrapulmonary IL-6 levels do not accurately reflect intrapulmonary IL-6 production. Thus IL-6 is produced within lung transplants during CMV pneumonia, and to a lesser extent during allograft rejection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Impairment of bronchial mucociliary clearance in long-term survivors of heart/lung and double-lung transplantation. The Paris-Sud Lung Transplant Group.

The study objective was to investigate bronchial mucociliary clearance after heart/lung and double lung transplantation. Bronchial mucociliary clearance was measured using a noninvasive radioaerosol technique: 99mTc-labeled albumin was aerosolized using a spinning-top generator (mass median aerodynamic diameter, 7.5 mu; geometric standard deviation, 1.5 mu). Radioactivity counts were acquired during 60 min with a gamma camera. A region of interest was drawn over the right lung delineated by a 133Xe lung ventilation image. Bronchial mucociliary clearance was assessed as the percentage of decrease in radioactivity per hour calculated on time-activity curves fitted by a monoexponential model. To exclude patients with acute lung rejection, opportunistic lung infection, and obliterative bronchiolitis, all patients with transplants underwent pulmonary function tests and bronchoscopic examination before clearance measurement. Eight heart/lung and five double-lung nonsmoking transplant patients with normal lung histology were studied 19.3 +/- 4.0 mo after surgery and compared to nine normal nonsmokers. A similar proximal deposition of the aerosol was obtained in patients with transplants and normal subjects; skew values of distribution histograms of aerosol radioactivity counts were 2.1 +/- 0.2 and 1.8 +/- 0.1, respectively, and the ratios between central and peripheral 99mTc radioactivity counts were 2.4 +/- 0.1 and 2.3 +/- 0.2, respectively. No significant difference was observed in bronchial clearance values between patients with heart/lung and double-lung transplants (26.4 +/- 3.0 percent/h vs 35.9 +/- 3.5 percent/h). Conversely, bronchial clearance was significantly lower in transplant recipients (30.0 +/- 2.5 percent/h) than in normal controls (58.7 +/- 6.2 percent/h; p < 0.001). This decreased bronchial clearance can be expected to increase the risk of lung infection in long-term survivors of heart/lung and double-lung transplantation.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Serum neopterin after lung transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: Neopterin (N), a marker for activated cell-mediated immunity, was assayed in the sera of 44 lung recipients early and late after transplantation. The study was a prospective, blind clinical trial designed to evaluate the following: (1) the daily dynamics of the serum neopterin/creatinine (N/C) ratio during the first 3 weeks after transplantation; (2) the correlation between changes in the serum N/C ratio and episodes of rejection or infection; (3) the correlation between the serum N/C ratio and the concentration of serum soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R), a marker of T-cell activation; and (4) the potential value of monitoring the serum N/C ratio during noninvasive long-term follow-up of lung recipients. METHODS: Sera from lung recipients were collected every day or every 2 days for the first 3 weeks after transplantation (22 patients) and before fiberoptic bronchoscopy and routine consultation (44 patients). The N concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay and sIL-2R levels were measured using a sandwich enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: Serum N/C is an early and sensitive marker of immune activation in the 21 days following transplantation. The N/C ratios during early rejections (815 +/- 182 mumol/mol) and infections (677 +/- 75 mumol/mol) were higher than those in patients with no complications (160 +/- 32 mumol/mol). In contrast, the N/C ratio did not increase during rejection later after transplantation. More than 3 weeks after transplantation, an increase in the N/C ratio was specifically correlated with infections, mainly those due to cytomegalovirus (CMV) (control subjects, 132 +/- 12 mumol/mol; rejections, 163 +/- 25 mumol/mol; CMV pneumonia, 786 +/- 103 mumol/mol, p < 0.001). The N/C ratio correlated with sIL-2R serum levels (r = 0.625, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that more than 3 weeks after transplantation, the serum N/C ratio increases only in cases of infection, mostly CMV pneumonia. In contrast, both rejection and infectious complications are associated with an increased N production in the early postoperative period.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Anterior transcervical-thoracic approach for radical resection of lung tumors invading the thoracic inlet.

We describe an original anterior transcervical-thoracic approach required for a safe exposure and radical resection of non-small-cell lung cancer that has invaded the cervical structures of the thoracic inlet. Through a large L-shaped anterior cervical incision, after the removal of the internal half of the clavicle, the following steps may be performed: (1) dissection or resection of the subclavian vein; (2) section of the anterior scalenus muscle and resection of the cervical portion of the phrenic nerve, if invaded; (3) exposure of the subclavian and vertebral arteries; (4) dissection of the brachial plexus up to the spinal foramen; (5) section of invaded ribs; and (6) en bloc removal of chest wall and lung tumor, either directly or through an extension of the cervical incision into the deltopectoral groove. An additional posterior thoracotomy may be required for resection of the chest wall below the second rib. Between 1980 and 1991, 29 patients underwent radical en bloc resection of the inlet tumor, chest wall (ribs 1 and 2), and underlying lung, either through the anterior transcervical approach alone (n = 9) or with an additional posterior thoracotomy (n = 20). The inferior root of the brachial plexus, either alone (n = 11) or with the phrenic nerve (n = 4), was involved and resected in 15 patients (52%). Twelve patients (41%) had a vascular involvement that included the subclavian artery alone (n = 3); subclavian artery and subclavian vein (n = 3); subclavian artery, subclavian vein, and vertebral artery (n = 2); subclavian artery and vertebral artery (n = 1); subclavian vein alone (n = 1); vertebral artery alone (n = 1), or subclavian artery and vertebral artery (n = 1). The subclavian artery was revascularized either with a prosthetic replacement (n = 7) or an end-to-end anastomosis (n = 2), and the median graft patency was 18.5 months (range, 6 to more than 73 months); only 1 patient had postradiotherapy graft occlusion in the revascularized artery 6 months after operation. We performed 14 wedge resections, 14 lobectomies, and 1 pneumonectomy. There were no operative or hospital deaths. Postoperative radiotherapy (median, 56 Gy) was given to 25 (86%) patients, either alone (n = 14) or in combination with adjuvant systemic chemotherapy (n = 11). With a median follow-up time of 2.5 years, overall 2- and 5-year survivals were 50% and 31%, respectively. This transcervical-thoracic approach affords a safe exposure and radical resection of non-small-cell lung cancer involving the thoracic inlet and results in encouraging long-term survival.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Phenotype profile of blood lymphocytes in bronchiolitis obliterans after lung transplantation].

Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) remains the major complication in long-term survivors with lung transplants, occurring in up to 30% of them. As a non-invasive follow-up of lung recipients, we studied the phenotype of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets. Using a flow cytometric analysis, we could define a specific pattern during BO. The most important findings were 1) disappearance of the CD19+ B cell population, despite normal or increased immunoglobulin blood levels; 2) marked decrease of the CD4+/CD8+ ratio; 3) dramatic increase in phenotypic cytotoxic effector T cells CD8+S6F1+ (MHC Class I-restricted allocytotoxicity) and CD3+CD4-CD8- (MHC Class I-non restricted allocytotoxicity); 4) marked increase of the CD4+CD29+ (helper/inducer T cell) to CD4+CD45RA+ (suppressor/inducer T cell) ratio associated with the loss of phenotypic suppressor/inducer CD4+CD45RA+ T cells. Moreover, we have shown that the maintenance triple immunosuppressive regimen that consisted of cyclosporin, prednisolone and azathioprine, did not affect the relative distribution of lymphocyte subsets, except for the CD3+CD4-CD8- cytotoxic subset that was slightly decreased under therapy. Thus, using a selected combination of lymphocyte membrane antigens, sequential prospective testing should be useful in the non-invasive follow-up of lung-transplanted patients to predict and halt the progressive course towards BO.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Comparative outcome of heart-lung and lung transplantation for pulmonary hypertension.

Despite the development of several lung transplantation procedures, the most advantageous for pulmonary hypertension remains controversial. Between 1986 and February 1992, 30 patients with end-stage primary pulmonary hypertension (n = 24), chronic pulmonary embolism (n = 4), and hystiocytosis X (n = 2) underwent heart-lung (n = 21), double lung (n = 8), or single lung (n = 1) transplantation. Indications for double lung transplantation were similar to those for heart-lung transplantation, and the preoperative clinical and hemodynamic parameters were not significantly different between the two groups. There were no intraoperative deaths, but two reoperations were needed for pleural hematoma. Five early deaths were related to graft failure (two heart-lung transplantations), mediastinitis (one heart-lung transplantation), multiorgan failure (one double lung transplantation), and aspergillosis (one double lung transplantation). There was a similar improvement in early (days 0 and 2) and late (6 months postoperatively) right-sided hemodynamic function in patients undergoing heart-lung and double lung transplantation. Three double lung transplant recipients had early and reversible left ventricular-failure. The early postoperative course of the one patient who had single lung transplantation was characterized by severe pulmonary edema, left ventricular failure, and persistent desaturation and later on by moderate pulmonary hypertension and an important ventilation/perfusion mismatch. The pulmonary function results were also similar in the heart-lung and double lung transplantation groups. The overall projected 2- and 4-year survivals were 49% and 41%, respectively, and were not significantly different between the heart-lung and double lung recipients. Results demonstrate that heart-lung and double lung transplantation are equally effective in obtaining early and durable right-sided hemodynamic and respiratory improvement and similar respiratory function. In patients with pulmonary hypertension, double lung transplantation should be preferred to single lung transplantation because of the critical postoperative course and the uncertain long-term results of single lung transplantation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Activation of macrophages and cytotoxic cells during cytomegalovirus pneumonia complicating lung transplantations.

The functional status of immune cells within human transplanted lungs was analyzed during cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia complicating lung and heart-lung transplantations. The expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) genes is a marker for the activation of macrophages as is that of serine esterase B (SE-B) gene for cytotoxic cells. The levels of expression of these genes by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells were determined by in situ hybridization. Eight cases of CMV pneumonia were included in this study. BAL cells from either rejection episodes (eight cases) or control transplanted patients experiencing neither infection nor allograft rejection (eight cases) were analyzed in parallel. In the control patients, virtually no cells expressed the IL-1 beta, the IL-6, or the SE-B genes. In contrast, these three genes were all expressed in samples from patients with CMV pneumonia. IL-1 beta gene-expressing cells were abundant in all infected patients (mean +/- SEM: 898 +/- 449 positive cells per 10(4) cells, p less than 0.001, compared with those in control patients). IL-6 gene-expressing cells were less numerous (92 +/- 74 positive cells per 10(4) cells) and present in five of the eight cases of CMV pneumonia. Activated cytotoxic cells were detected in seven of the eight cases of CMV pneumonia (36.5 +/- 19 SE-B gene-expressing cells per 10(4) cells, p less than 0.001). During allograft rejections (eight cases) IL-1 beta gene-expressing cells were present in all but one patient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗