Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “LUNGS”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Lung and heart-lung transplantation for end-stage lung disease. The Bordeaux Lung and Heart-Lung Transplant Group.

Between February 1988 and December 1989, 15 combined heart-lung, 2 double lung and 5 single lung transplants were performed at our institution for end stage lung disease. The indication for heart-lung transplantation was primary lung disease with associated secondary heart failure in 11 cases, diffuse pulmonary disease with extensive adenopathy of the hilum in 2 cases and profuse and antibiotic-resistant tracheobronchial infection due to Pseudomonas in 2 cases. A double lung transplant was performed in 2 patients with hypertensive emphysema. The indication for a single lung transplantation was emphysema in 2 cases and pulmonary fibrosis in 3 cases; in this last indication, transplantation should be performed on the right side with a slight lengthening of the main bronchus to avoid the side-effects of mediastinal shift. There were 2 early deaths, 7 secondary deaths (from the 2nd to the 5th month) due to viral or bacterial infectious complications, and 1 late death in the 7th month (infection due to a syncitial virus). All 12 surviving patients have an excellent functional result; the size of the tracheal or bronchial anastomosis ranges from 85% to 100% of normal. From this experience, we conclude that specificity and severity of lung hazards are mainly related to bronchial infection, dependence on steroids and pleural adhesions. Moreover, posttransplant pulmonary oedema, mucociliary dysfunction and the differential diagnosis between rejection and infection require careful endobronchial suction and periodical sampling.

Adult↗

Human lung organ-specific antigens on normal lung, lung tumors, and a lung tumor cell line.

An antiserum raised in rabbits against a lung tumor cell line (2563) was selected from a library of antisera against normal and malignant human lung, lung tumor cell lines, and fetal tissues and was found by complement fixation, immunofluorescence, and saturation binding assays to contain antibodies for antigens characteristic of those found in normal lung. Studies with the adsorbed antiserum (A49) revealed: 1) An antigen was shared by normal lung and normal kidney (NLK-1) 2) lung tissue-specific antigen(s) were present on normal lung tissue (NL-1); 3) NL-1 was found on both external and internal cell membranes; and 4) NL-1, in addition to being present on normal lung and the adenocarcinoma-derived cell line 2563, was present on 1 of 2 metastatic lung adenocarcinomas but on none of 4 metastatic lung tumors of other histologic types.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Lung cancer in patients with borderline lung functions--zonal lung perfusion scans at presentation and lung function after high dose irradiation.

We prospectively studied patients with lung carcinoma and borderline lung functions (forced expired volume [FEV1] of less than 1500 ml or a dyspnoea score of 2 [7] at presentation), who were treated with high dose irradiation. Patients were divided into those with suprahilar and hilar tumours. Lung perfusion was assessed in upper, middle and lower zones for each lung at presentation. The ipsi-lateral upper and middle zone were regarded as at risk from irradiation in patients with suprahilar tumors and the whole ipsi-lateral lung in patients with hilar tumors. Lung function was measured at presentation (18 patients) at 4-6 month follow up (16 evaluable patients = group 1) and again at 10-12 month follow up (10 evaluable patients = group 2). A worsening of the dyspnoea score (3 in group 1 and 2 in group 2) occurred only in patients with a greater than 10% decrease in transfer factor irrespective of the change in FEV1. A statistically significant correlation was found between decreased transfer factor at follow up and the perfusion in the lung zones regarded as at risk from irradiation at presentation (Spearman's rank correlation). There was no correlation between perfusion and changes in the FEV1. Patients in whom lung perfusion was less than 35% in the zones at risk tended not to have decreased transfer factor at follow up. These findings indicate that worsening in the patients' dyspnoea score after irradiation is dependent on decreased transfer factor rather than FEV1 and that patients with borderline lung functions may be treated with irradiation if the perfusion in the zones at risk from radiation is less than 35%.

Adult↗

[Estimation of 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine lung uptake in heart and lung diseases--with reference to lung uptake ratio and decrease of lung uptake].

123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy was performed in 64 patients with heart and lung diseases. Distribution of MIBG in the chest was evaluated by planar images, using counts ratios of the heart to the mediastinum (H/M) and the unilateral lung to the mediastinum (Lu/M). Most of patients with heart diseases showed obvious lung uptake of MIBG. The ratios of H/M were 1.75 +/- 0.20 in the group without heart failure and 1.55 +/- 0.19 in the group with heart failure. The ratios of Lu/M in the right and left lung were 1.56 +/- 0.16 and 1.28 +/- 0.16 in the group without heart failure. And those were 1.45 +/- 0.16 and 1.19 +/- 0.15 in the group with heart failure. But 3 patients complicated with chronic pulmonary emphysema and one patient with interstitial pneumonia due to dermatomyositis showed markedly decreased lung uptake. The ratios of Lu/M in the right and left lung of these patients were 1.20, 1.17; 1.17, 1.13; 1.01, 0.97 and 1.27, 0.94, respectively. These results suggest that the lung uptake of MIBG may reflect the state of pulmonary endothelial cell function in clinical situations, considering that it has been demonstrated that MIBG may be useful as a marker of pulmonary endothelial cell function in the isolated rat lung.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

Relationship of alveolar permeability and lung inflammation in patients with active diffuse infiltrative lung disease detected by 99Tcm-DTPA radioaerosol inhalation lung scintigraphy and quantitative 67Ga lung scans.

The alveolar permeability (AP) in 21 patients with active diffuse infiltrative lung disease (ILD) was measured by 99Tcm-diethylenetriaminapentaacetate (DTPA) radioaerosol inhalation lung scintigraphy. The degree of AP damage in ILD was presented as the slope (% min-1) of the time-activity curve from the dynamic lung image. Meanwhile, the quantitative Ga lung scan (GA) was performed as a Ga uptake index (GUI) to evaluate the severity of lung inflammation in active ILD. The results show that no good correlation between the degree of AP damage and lung inflammation was found. When the patients were divided into two groups of (A) eight active ILD with normal chest X-ray (X-ray) and (B) 13 active ILD with abnormal X-ray, there was no significant difference between groups A and B for the DTPA and Ga results. In conclusion, the relationship between the degree of AP damage and lung inflammation in active ILD is not significant. This was not consistent with X-ray findings. There was, however, a significant difference between those with ILD and normal controls.

Adult↗

Does splitting the lung block into two single lung grafts equate to doubling the societal benefit from bilateral lung donors? Comparisons between two single versus one bilateral lung transplant. UK Cardiothoracic Transplant Audit Steering Group.

Multi-organ thoracic transplantation, although beneficial to one recipient, has an opportunity cost of denied transplants to others. This paper compares population based outcomes of splitting lung blocks for two single lung transplants compared to doing one bilateral lung transplant, and suggests that the benefit of splitting lung blocks may not necessarily be double that of using each block for one recipient.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Heart-lung versus double-lung transplantation for suppurative lung disease.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes after heart-lung or double-lung transplantation in patients undergoing transplantation because of end-stage suppurative lung disease. METHODS: We reviewed our experience in patients with cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis who had heart-lung or double-lung transplantation between January 1988 and September 1997. Twenty-three patients (14 male, 21 cystic fibrosis) had heart-lung transplantation and 24 patients (8 male, 19 cystic fibrosis) had double-lung transplantation. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in age, weight, preoperative creatinine level, cytomegalovirus status, maintenance immunosuppression, or donor demographics. Patients received induction therapy with monoclonal (OKT3) or polyclonal (rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin) antibody. RESULTS: Sixteen of 24 patients had double-lung transplantation after 1994 whereas 13 of 22 patients had heart-lung transplantation before 1991, allowing longer follow-up for the heart-lung group. Mean waiting times for transplantation were 270 +/- 245 days (heart-lung) and 361 +/- 229 days (double-lung; P =.20). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year actuarial survival figures were respectively 86%, 82%, and 65% (heart-lung) and 96%, 75%, and unavailable (double-lung; P = no significant difference). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year rates of freedom from obliterative bronchiolitis were respectively 77%, 61%, and 45% (heart-lung) and 86%, 78%, and unavailable (double-lung; P = no significant difference). Linearized overall infection rates (events/100 patient-days) were 2.05 +/- 0.33 (heart-lung) and 2.34 +/- 0.34 (double-lung; P = NS) at 3 months. Thirty-day survival was 100% (heart-lung) and 96% (double-lung). There were 7 late deaths among heart-lung recipients (3 obliterative bronchiolitis, 2 infection, 0 graft coronary artery disease, 2 other) whereas 2 late deaths related to obliterative bronchiolitis occurred in double-lung recipients. Graft coronary artery disease (all stenoses < 50%) affected 15% of heart-lung survivors, whereas 3 double-lung recipients (12.5%) required either bronchial dilatation or stenting. CONCLUSION: Heart-lung and double-lung transplantation provide similar palliation for patients with end-stage suppurative lung disease. Therefore double-lung transplantation should be the preferred operation for most patients with end-stage suppurative lung disease.

Adult↗

Intravenous or enteral loop diuretics for preterm infants with (or developing) chronic lung disease.

BACKGROUND: Lung disease in preterm infants is often complicated with lung edema. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this review was to assess the risks and benefits of administration of a diuretic acting on the loop of Henle (loop diuretic) in preterm infants with or developing chronic lung disease (CLD). Primary objectives were to assess changes in need for oxygen or ventilatory support and effects on long-term outcome, and secondary objectives were to assess changes in pulmonary mechanics and potential complications of therapy. SEARCH STRATEGY: We used the standard search method of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group. We used the following keywords: ¿ or ¿ and , limited to and limited to or . We searched Medline (1966-1998), Embase (1974-1998) and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CCTR) from the Cochrane Library (1998, issue 4). In addition, we hand searched several abstract books of national and international American and European Societies. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included in this analysis trials in which preterm infants with or developing chronic lung disease and at least 5 days of age were all randomly allocated to receive a loop diuretic either enterally or intravenously. Eligible studies needed to assess at least one of the outcome variables defined a priori for this systematic review. Primary outcome variables included important clinical outcomes, and secondary outcome variables included toxicity and pulmonary mechanics (e.g., lung compliance and airway resistance). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used the standard method for the Cochrane Collaboration which is described in the Cochrane Collaboration Handbook. Two investigators extracted, assessed and coded separately all data for each study, using a form that was designed specifically for this review. Any disagreement was resolved by discussion. We combined parallel and cross-over trials and, whenever possible, transformed baseline and final outcome data measured on a continuous scale into change scores using Follmann's formula. MAIN RESULTS: The only loop diuretic used in the studies which met the selection criteria was furosemide. Most studies focused on pathophysiological parameters and did not assess effects on important clinical outcomes defined in this review, or the potential complications of diuretic therapy. In preterm infants < 3 weeks of age developing CLD, furosemide administration has either inconsistent effects or no detectable effect. In infants > 3 weeks of age with CLD, a single intravenous dose of 1 mg/kg of furosemide improves lung compliance and airway resistance for 1 hour. Chronic administration of furosemide improves both oxygenation and lung compliance. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: In preterm infants > 3 weeks of age with CLD, acute and chronic administration of furosemide improve lung compliance. Chronic administration of intravenous or enteral furosemide improves oxygenation. In view of the lack of data from randomized trials concerning effects on important clinical outcomes, routine or sustained use of systemic loop diuretics in infants with (or developing) CLD cannot be recommended based on current evidence. Randomized trials are needed to assess the effects of furosemide administration on survival, duration of ventilatory support and oxygen administration, length of hospital stay, potential complications and long-term outcome.

Chronic Disease↗

Comparison of outcomes of double and single lung transplantation for obstructive lung disease. The Toronto Lung Transplant Group.

Single lung transplantation has recently been applied with success in patients with obstructive lung disease. Such patients were previously managed by bilateral pulmonary transplantation. Between November 1986 and January 1990, 18 patients underwent transplantation for obstructive lung disease in our center. Eleven double lung transplants and seven single lung transplants were performed in patients having a mean age of 43.4 and 44.1 years, respectively. Operative death occurred in two of 11 double lung transplantations and one of seven single lung transplantations. Each patient underwent preoperative and 3-month postoperative pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gas analyses, nuclear lung scans, and 6-minute walk tests. There was no difference in the preoperative values for any of these parameters. Double lung recipients had significantly higher forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity than single lung recipients. However, the ratios of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to vital capacity were not different. Arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide tension were not different between the two procedures. Whereas double lung transplantations caused a slight preponderance of perfusion to the right lung, the transplanted lung in single lung recipients received a mean of 79.5% +/- 12.3% of predicted flow and only 61.6% +/- 5.0% of predicted ventilation. Three-month 6-minute walk distances were markedly improved in both groups, with double lung recipients achieving 573.0 +/- 44.7 m in comparison with the 528.0 +/- 43.0 m achieved by the single lung recipients. Single lung transplantation is a satisfactory option in patients with obstructive lung disease and might offer significant advantages to the older patient population, in which risk of double lung transplantation is high.

Adult↗

Assessment of changes in lung microvascular permeability in posttraumatic acute lung failure after direct and indirect injuries to lungs.

We prospectively studied the variation in sequence of occurrence of lung microvascular permeability (LMVP) increase and clinical onset of posttraumatic acute lung failure (ALF) in the sequential failure of organ systems after direct and indirect lung injury. Acute lung failure developed in 52 of 255 trauma patients. Thirty-seven of these developed ALF after a direct injury to lung tissue and 11 after an indirect injury. Lung microvascular permeability was measured with a gamma camera simultaneously over both lungs using indium 113m-labeled transferrin and technetium 99m-labeled erythrocytes in 24 patients with ALF due to direct lung injury and in 4 with ALF due to indirect injury. A localized increased LMVP was observed initially only in the directly traumatized lung (traumatized/nontraumatized lung: 10.03 +/- 5.08/3.73 +/- 3.33 %/h), but involved the primarily nontraumatized lung within 4 days (traumatized/nontraumatized lung: 9.13 +/- 4.49/10.89 +/- 5.05 %/h). In contrast, in ALF due to indirect lung injury, an increased LMVP over both lungs was observed initially (right/left lung: 11.57 +/- 6.18/12.63 +/- 5.73 %/h) and 4 days later (right/left lung: 12.3 +/- 5.49/11.92 +/- 5.75 %/h). Acute lung failure due to direct lung injury occurred significantly earlier (less than 72 h) (P less than 0.01), whereas onset of indirectly induced ALF was later (greater than 72 h). Sepsis syndrome and multiple organ failure were the major complications once ALF occurred after a direct injury. In contrast, sepsis syndrome and multiple organ failure commonly preceded or paralleled the onset of ALF due to an indirect injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗

Moderately early (7-14 days) postnatal corticosteroids for preventing chronic lung disease in preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Corticosteroids have been used late in the neonatal period to treat chronic lung disease (CLD) in preterm babies and early to try to prevent it. CLD is likely to be the result of persisting inflammation in the lung and the use of powerful anti-inflammatory drugs like dexamethasone has some rationale. Early use tends to be associated with increased adverse effects so that studies of moderately early treatment (7-14 days postnatal) might have the dual benefits of fewer side effects and onset of action before chronic inflammation is established. OBJECTIVES: To determine if moderately early (7-14 days) postnatal corticosteroid treatment vs control (placebo or nothing) is of benefit in the prevention and/or treatment of early chronic lung disease in the preterm infant. SEARCH STRATEGY: Randomised controlled trials of postnatal corticosteroid therapy were sought from the Oxford Database of Perinatal Trials, Cochrane Database of Controlled Trials, Medline, hand searching paediatric and perinatal journals, examining previous review articles and information received from practising neonatologists. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials of postnatal corticosteroid treatment from 7-14 days of birth in high risk preterm infants were selected for this review. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data regarding clinical outcomes including mortality up to 28 days and before discharge, failure to extubate, mortality and / or chronic lung disease at 28 days and 36 weeks, CLD at 28 days and 36 weeks, infection, hyperglycaemia, hypertension, severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), pneumothorax, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), gastrointestinal bleeding, severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, late rescue with dexamethasone and abnormal neurological examination at follow-up were abstracted and analysed using Revman 4.0.4. MAIN RESULTS: Moderately early steroid treatment (vs placebo or nothing) reduced mortality by 28 days, chronic lung disease at 28 days and 36 weeks, and death or chronic lung disease at 28 days or 36 weeks. Earlier extubation was facilitated. There was no significant effect on the rates of pneumothorax, severe ROP, and NEC. Adverse effects included hypertension, hyperglycaemia, gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and infection. Steroid-treated infants were less likely to need late rescue with dexamethasone. There was only one small study of longterm follow-up and it did not show any increase in adverse neurological outcome. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Moderately early corticosteroid therapy (started at 7-14 days) reduces neonatal mortality and CLD, but at the cost of important short term adverse effects. No reliable evidence concerning long term effects is provided by the trials included in this review. In view of the evidence of an important increase in cerebral palsy and other adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes from trials in which postnatal steroid was begun either earlier or later than 7-14 days, there are reasonable grounds for extending this concern to moderately early initiation of steroid therapy. More research is urgently needed, including long term follow-up of survivors included in previous and any future trials, before the benefits and risks of postnatal steroid treatment, including initiation at 7-14 days, can be reliably assessed.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Effects of lung expansion on lung liquid production in vitro by lungs from fetal guinea-pigs. II. Evidence for generation of an inhibitory factor.

Lungs from near-term fetal guinea-pigs were supported in vitro for 3 h; lung liquid production was measured by a dye-dilution method using Blue Dextran 2000 [fetuses 63 +/- 2 days of gestation, 97.6 +/- 19.8 (SD) g body weight]. Preparations were incubated in pairs taken from the same mother. Twenty lungs incubated in pairs without treatment (controls) showed no significant changes in fluid production throughout incubation (analysis of variance; regression analysis); rates in successive hours were: first lung, 1.36 +/- 0.39, 1.09 +/- 0.34 and 1.27 +/- 0.42 ml/kg body weight per h; second lung, 1.46 +/- 0.52, 1.09 +/- 0.41 and 1.18 +/- 0.43 ml/kg body weight per h. Twenty lungs were incubated similarly in pairs, but after one hour one lung from each pair was expanded with Krebs-Henseleit saline in volumes approximating those of the first breath (68 +/- 10% of lung volume). The expanded lungs began to reabsorb fluid immediately after expansion; the untreated lungs also stopped production or reached reabsorption by the final hour. Rates in successive hours were: expanded lungs; before expansion, 1.00 +/- 0.21, after expansion, -0.23 +/- 0.17 and 0.14 +/- 0.09 ml/kg body weight per h; unexpanded lungs, 1.27 +/- 0.49, 0.02 +/- 0.01 and -0.01 +/- 0.004 ml/kg body weight per h. The decrease in production was significant for each type of lung. The effects persisted in both expanded and unexpanded lungs in the presence of 1.78 x 10(-5) M phentolamine (n = 12; 70 +/- 2% expansion). The results suggest that expansion of the lungs at birth may release an unknown inhibitory factor, provisionally termed Expansion Factor (EF), within the lungs; this agent, probably not a catecholamine, can change lung fluid production into reabsorption and may partly account for the failure of beta-antagonists to prevent fluid reabsorption at delivery.

Absorption↗

Diagnosis for interstitial lung disease in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS): a prospective comparison of bronchial washing, alveolar lavage, transbronchial lung biopsy, and open-lung biopsy.

This study was undertaken to compare prospectively the diagnostic yield of the various bronchoscopic techniques with that of open-lung biopsy for interstitial lung disease in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Under general anesthesia, 15 patients sequentially underwent bronchial washing, transbronchial lung biopsy, alveolar lavage, and open-lung biopsy in the same segment of lung. Of nine patients with Pneumocystis carinii, seven were diagnosed by means of the transbronchial lung biopsy, eight by the open-lung biopsy, and all nine by alveolar lavage. Of the six patients with cytomegalovirus, five were diagnosed by the open-lung biopsy, five by the transbronchial lung biopsy, and three by alveolar lavage. The sensitivities of the procedures for identifying infection were washings (15%), transbronchial lung biopsy (50%), alveolar lavage (73%), and open-lung biopsy (88%). Combined, transbronchial lung biopsy and alveolar lavage showed a diagnostic yield (85%) for infections comparable to that of open-lung biopsy (88%), thereby obviating the need for open-lung biopsy for such diagnoses. However, open-lung biopsy was the only procedure that diagnosed Kaposi's sarcoma in lung.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Lung size matching for double lung transplantation based on the submammary thoracic perimeter. Accuracy and functional results. The Joint Marseille-Montreal Lung Transplant Program.

The present study evaluates the accuracy of submammary thoracic perimeter for lung size matching between donor and recipient and analyzes the influence of donor lung size discrepancies on functional outcome after double lung transplantation. The population is composed of 18 double lung graft recipients, 16 of whom had cystic fibrosis. The lung size match was assessed by comparison of predicted total lung capacity of donor and recipient: five patients were matched in a 10% confidence interval; four received smaller lungs, and nine received larger ones. The functional outcome was assessed with the spirometric values measured at 3 and 6 months after transplantation. The final functional result was not influenced by the lung size (r = 0.142 for total lung capacity; r = 0.372 for vital capacity; r = 0.378 for forced expiratory volume in 1 second). For larger lungs the final result tended to the recipient's predicted, whereas for smaller lungs, spirometry tended to the donor's predicted (r = 0.906 for total lung capacity; r = 0.875 for vital capacity; r = 0.874 for forced expiratory volume in 1 second). The thoracotomy effect, that is, restrictive syndrome at 3 months that resolves at 6 months, was not correlated with the lung size (r = 0.07 for total lung capacity; r = 0.436 for vital capacity). It is concluded that respiratory functional result is not affected by larger lungs; despite the wide range of error, the submammary thoracic perimeter appeared to be a satisfactory selection parameter in this group of patients.

Adolescent↗

Magnetic resonance imaging of lung signal intensity and dimensions in patients with advanced lung disease before and after single lung transplantation.

A retrospective analysis of lung signal intensity normalized for fat and lung cross-sectional area normalized for body surface area was obtained from cardiac gated spin-echo (echo time 40 ms) images before and after single-lung transplantation in 12 patients with pulmonary airway disease (seven emphysema, two bronchiectasis and three obliterative bronchiolitis) and 14 with interstitial lung disease (three pulmonary fibrosis, four fibrosing alveolitis and seven lymphangioleiomyomatosis). Nine healthy volunteers were studied for comparison. The native lung in pulmonary airway disease without inflammatory processes has normalised signal intensity (79 +/- 12%) similar to that of the control (100 +/- 6%) while interstitial lung disease had a higher normalised signal intensity (172 +/- 33%; P = < 0.05). The transplanted lung had a similar normalised signal intensity (103 +/- 12%) to that of the control except when there was a rejection reaction (one patient) or infection (two patients). Compared with the control, the native lung was smaller in pulmonary fibrosis (50 +/- 8%) and fibrosing alveolitis (78 +/- 8%), while larger in lymphangioleiomyomatosis (136 +/- 6%) and pulmonary airway disease (165 +/- 8%). The cross-sectional area of the transplanted lung was comparable to that of the control (100 +/- 13%). Distinctive features of lung normalised signal intensity and cross-sectional area were demonstrated in patients with pulmonary airway disease and interstitial lung disease before lung transplantation. These measurements could be useful noninvasive indices for assessment of the transplanted lung and for frequent follow-up of patients without exposure to ionizing radiation. Future developments are required to enhance lung signal sufficiently to detect less severe diseases.

Adult↗

Pentoxifylline and lung ischemia-reperfusion injury: application to lung transplantation. Université Paris-Sud Lung Transplant Group.

Pentoxifylline (PTX) attenuates neutrophil-mediated lung injury in several models of acute lung inflammation. Because pulmonary neutrophil sequestration is the main determinant of ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in lung transplantation, we sought to determine whether or not PTX prevented IR injury in isolated perfused rat and rabbit lungs submitted to IR, and in pigs after left lung allotransplantation. In rat lungs after IR, the coefficient of lung endothelial permeability (Kfc) increased by 112 +/- 12% in controls and by 27 +/- 8% (p < 0.001) in PTX-treated lungs. After IR, lung myeloperoxidase and blood neutrophil count decrease were lower with PTX than in controls, and the changes in Kfc were correlated with the percentage decrease in blood neutrophils during reperfusion. In rabbit lungs, endothelium-dependent relaxation in isolated pulmonary arterial rings was decreased in the control group and normal in the PTX group. In pigs ventilated with pure oxygen, the PaO2 was greater in the PTX group than in the control group (423 +/- 49 vs. 265 +/- 43 mm Hg; p < 0.05), whereas the total pulmonary vascular resistance was lower (15 +/- 1 vs. 30 +/- 9 mm Hg/L/min; p < 0.02). After reperfusion, the decrease in circulating leukocyte count fell by 35 +/- 3% in the control group and remained unchanged in the PTX group, and the leukocyte count per microscopic field in the transplanted lung was lower in the PTX group than in the control group (p < 0.02). In conclusion, PTX prevented IR lung endothelium injury and improved post-IR lung function by decreasing neutrophil lung sequestration, and this agent might be useful in clinical lung transplantation.

Animals↗

Lung function associated with histologically diagnosed acute lung rejection and pulmonary infection in heart-lung transplant patients.

A group of 34 heart-lung transplant patients were studied with serial pulmonary function measurements, chest radiographs, and transbronchial biopsies from the time of surgery. These investigations were carried out routinely at 3 and 6 months and then annually after transplantation as well as on clinical suspicion of acute lung rejection or infection. A total of 61 transbronchial biopsies and concurrent lung function and chest radiographs were obtained. Of the biopsies, 30 (49.2%) showed histologic evidence of lung rejection, 12 (19.7%) demonstrated various opportunistic infections, and 19 (31.1%) were normal. Compared to during episodes of normal biopsies, FEV1 decreased significantly with lung rejection (p less than 0.001) and with infection (p less than 0.01). Vital capacity (VC) and DLCO also fell with these acute lung complications. Using histologic diagnosis as a standard, lung function testing had a sensitivity of 86% in detecting lung rejection in the first 3 months postoperation and 75% in the subsequent period. Its sensitivity for detecting lung infection was 75%. Although not distinguishing between these two complications, lung function had a specificity of 84% for detecting occurrence of an acute lung complication. Chest radiographs, although of similar sensitivity in the first 3 months postsurgery, had a sensitivity of only 19% for rejection in subsequent months and 58% for infection. Its specificity was 100%. Lung function testing changes in a predictable fashion with lung rejection and infection, offers an improvement over chest radiographs, and provides a quantitative measurement to aid the decision of when to undertake transbronchial lung biopsy.

Biopsy↗