title: Neurologic complications following lung transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurologic complications are frequent after solid organ transplantation, but their spectrum in lung transplant recipients has not been characterized.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of medical records of 132 consecutive adult lung allograft recipients transplanted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center between 2001 and 2003 with a follow-up until December 31, 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neurologic complications were reported in 68% of lung transplant recipients. Most common complications were impairment of consciousness (25%), neuromuscular complications (21%) and headaches (20%). The presence of neurologic complications did not affect posttransplant survival. Neurologic complications were commonly related to immunosuppressant neurotoxicity (17%) and opportunistic infections (11%). There was a trend for an increased frequency of seizures and headaches in recipients with cystic fibrosis (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neurologic complications are a significant source of morbidity in lung transplant recipients. High prevalence of immunosuppressant toxicity is attributable to higher immunosuppression needs for effective prevention of allograft rejection. Frequent opportunistic infections are associated with complications related to systemic and CNS infections and toxicity of antibiotics. Patients with cystic fibrosis may be at higher risk of neurologic complications, but larger studies are needed to corroborate this finding and fully characterize the spectrum of neurologic complications following lung transplantation.
authors.affiliation: VA Pittsburgh HCS, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. zivkovics@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Sasa A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Zivković
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jumaa
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barisić
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCurry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002494:Central Nervous System Infections / Q000150:complications; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents