Bronchiolitis obliterans following lung transplantation.
Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is the main and late chronic complication after lung transplantation. It remains a major impediment to long-term outcome. Unfortunately, the survival rate of lung transplant recipients lags behind that of other organ transplant recipients, and BOS accounts for more than 30% of all mortality after the third year following lung transplantation. Most recent studies suggest that immune injury is the main pathogenic event in small airway obliteration and the development of BOS. Early detection of BOS is possible as well as essential because prompt initiation of treatment may halt the progress of the disease and the development of chronic graft failure. Current treatment of BOS is disappointing despite advances in surgical techniques and improvements in immunosuppressive therapies. Therefore, a clear understanding of the pathogenesis of BOS plays a major role in the search for new and effective therapeutic strategies for better long-term survival and quality of life after lung transplantation.
Al-Githmi
Iskander
I
Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, PR China. algithmi@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk
Batawil
Nadia
N
Shigemura
Norihisa
N
Hsin
Michael
M
Lee
Tak Wai
TW
He
Gue-Wei
GW
Yim
Anthony
A
D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors