title: What are the best pulmonary function test parameters for early detection of post-lung transplant bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in children?
abstract: Post-lung transplant bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is defined as an unexplained fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) >or=20% of baseline (B). There have been reports in adults that FEF25-75% (>30% decline from B) is more sensitive than FEV1 for the early diagnosis of BOS. Yet, it is not known if other pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters - forced expiratory flow rates at 25-75% of vital capacity (FEF25-75%) and maximal expiratory flow rate at 80% (Vmax80%), 70% (Vmax70%) and 60% (Vmax60%) - are more sensitive indicators for early diagnosis of BOS than FEV1 in post-lung transplant children. We reviewed serial PFTs of 18 patients (ages 14.1 +/- 3.7 yr, 50% female) who had lung transplantation at our institution from 1993 to 1999, and who met the criteria for BOS diagnosis. There was no significant difference in post-transplant days when decline in FEV1 >or=20% of B, FEF25-75% >30% of B, and Vmax80%, Vmax70% and Vmax60% from normal occurred (635 +/- 431, 551 +/- 422 and 454 +/- 287 days, respectively; p = 0.4). However, a decline in FEV1 was the first abnormality in only 39% of the patients, while a decline in FEF25-75% and Vmax at specific lung volume were the first abnormality in 78% and 56% of the patients, respectively. The earliest signs of BOS would be missed in 61% of patients if FEV1 was the primary parameter used for the diagnosis. In order to improve the sensitivity of the diagnosis of post-lung transplant BOS; we speculate that the diagnosis should be based on decreases in FEF25-75% rather than on FEV1.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, and Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.
authors.forename: Suchada
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sritippayawan
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Keens
authors.forename: Monica V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: Vaughn A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Starnes
authors.forename: Marlyn S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Woo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013577:Syndrome