title: Plasma C-reactive protein levels correlate with markers of airway inflammation after lung transplantation: a role for systemic inflammation in bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration has been associated with allograft dysfunction in cardiac and renal transplantation; data in lung transplantation (LTx), however, are lacking. We hypothesized that in Ltx, systemic inflammation may be associated with airway inflammation, which has an important role in the development of chronic allograft dysfunction or bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after LTx.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective, longitudinal, cohort study, plasma CRP concentration, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) inflammatory markers (interleukin [IL]-6 and IL-8 protein levels and cell differentials), and pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) were evaluated in 100 LTx recipients at discharge and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. The Spearman rank test was used to determine a possible relationship between these parameters at each routine follow-up visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma CRP concentration positively correlated with BAL total cell count and neutrophilia, whereas there was a negative correlation with pulmonary function at discharge and at 3 and 6 months after LTx. A correlation between plasma CRP concentration and BAL interleukin levels was present at discharge (IL-6 and IL-8) and at 6 months (IL-8) after LTx.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Systemic inflammation and IL-8-mediated neutrophilic airway inflammation seem to be associated after LTx. Therefore, systemic inflammation has a possible role in the development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after LTx.
authors.affiliation: Lung Transplantation Unit, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Vanaudenaerde
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: De Vleeschauwer
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Van Raemdonck
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Verleden