title: New developments in treatment after lung transplantation.
abstract: Lung transplantation has evolved as an accepted therapy in selected adults and children with end-stage lung disease. Outcomes following lung transplantation have improved in the recent era with a 5-year survival of > 70% and an overall good functional status of surviving recipients. Many of the advances have been achieved by the use of modern immunosuppressive agents. To date, multiple strategies exist that may be employed when utilizing immunosuppression. These agents can be used in a variety of roles that may include induction, maintenance or rescue therapy, many of which are illustrated in this review including the current evidence to support their use. Infections in lung transplant recipients remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Special considerations are required with the substantial burden of chronic infection in candidates with CF lung disease before transplantation, which are discussed. Furthermore, recent progress and advances in prevention and treatment of post-transplantation infectious complications are detailed. Chronic lung allograft dysfunction remains to be the burden of lung transplantation in the long-term. Unfortunately, there is no well-established therapy to address it. However, therapy attempts include change/augmentation of immunosupression, use of neomacrolides and extracorporeal photopheresis, all of which are reviewed in detail.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistr 100, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland. christian_benden@yahoo.de
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benden
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Danziger-Isakov
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016040:Lung Transplantation
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents