Frontiers in Transplantation (Aug 2024)

Mitigating the risk of inflammatory type primary graft dysfunction by applying an integrated approach to assess, modify and match risk factors in lung transplantation

  • Sue A. Braithwaite,
  • Elize M. Berg,
  • Linda M. de Heer,
  • Jitte Jennekens,
  • Arne Neyrinck,
  • Elise van Hooijdonk,
  • Bart Luijk,
  • Wolfgang F. F. A. Buhre,
  • Niels P. van der Kaaij

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/frtra.2024.1422088
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3

Abstract

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Long-term outcome following lung transplantation remains one of the poorest of all solid organ transplants with a 1- and 5-year survival of 85% and 59% respectively for adult lung transplant recipients and with 50% of patients developing chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) in the first 5 years following transplant. Reducing the risk of inflammatory type primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is vital for improving both short-term survival following lung transplantation and long-term outcome due to the association of early inflammatory-mediated damage to the allograft and the risk of CLAD. PGD has a multifactorial aetiology and high-grade inflammatory-type PGD is the result of cumulative insults that may be incurred in one or more of the three variables of the transplantation continuum: the donor lungs, the recipient and intraoperative process. We set out a conceptual framework which uses a fully integrated approach to this transplant continuum to attempt to identify and, where possible, modify specific donor, recipient and intraoperative PGD risk with the goal of reducing inflammatory-type PGD risk for an individual recipient. We also consider the concept and risk-benefit of matching lung allografts and recipients on the basis of donor and recipient PGD-risk compatibility. The use of ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) and the extended preservation of lung allografts on EVLP will be explored as safe, non-injurious EVLP may enable extensive inflammatory testing of specific donor lungs and has the potential to provide a platform for targeted therapeutic interventions on lung allografts.

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