Outcome of influenza infection managed with oseltamivir in lung transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
Influenza causes significant morbidity and mortality in lung transplant recipients and likely predisposes to obliterative bronchiolitis. Neuraminidase inhibitors shorten the duration of symptoms and virus shedding and the number of antibiotic-requiring complications in ambulatory immunocompetent patients, although the efficacy of these agents in lung transplant recipients has not been assessed previously.


METHODS
In this study, 9 lung transplant patients who were treated with oseltamivir for influenza infections were identified and analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
Oseltamivir was well tolerated. Infection resolved in all patients and there were no deaths. Two patients developed pneumonia shortly after their influenza infection and both responded to antibiotic therapy. None of the patients had persistent abnormalities noted on chest imaging and most did not show significant changes on pulmonary function testing. Two patients with the lowest pulmonary function test (PFT) values pre-infection had persistent defects after infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Oseltamivir is well tolerated in lung transplant recipients and may reduce the risk of complications, although further studies are warranted.
Ison
Michael G
MG
Division of Infectious Diseases and Organ Transplantation, Transplant and Immunocompromised Host Infectious Diseases Service, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. mgison@northwestern.edu
Sharma
Amita
A
Shepard
Jo-Anne O
JA
Wain
John C
JC
Ginns
Leo C
LC
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053139:Oseltamivir / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D053139:Oseltamivir