[Lung transplantation in sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis: study of 7 cases].
OBJECTIVE
Sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis (S-LAM) is a rare disease that affects only women. It is characterized by an abnormal proliferation of immature smooth muscle cells (LAM cells) that grow in an aberrant manner in the airway, parenchymal lung lymph and blood vessels, determining the onset of pulmonary cystic lesions. The disease has no treatment, progressing to respiratory failure, and lung transplantation (LT) may be a treatment option at this stage. Our goal was to study 7 patients undergoing LT for S-LAM.


METHODS
We studied a series of clinical and demographic characteristics, diagnostic modality and post-transplant outcomes. We performed a descriptive analysis of the series. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival.


RESULTS
The mean age of onset of symptoms was 35 years, the diagnosis of 37 years and that of LT 38 years. The most common symptom was dyspnea. Four patients had a history of pneumothorax and pleural effusion. The mean forced expiratory volume in one second was 32.7% and the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide was 29%. All patients were subjected to LT and survival was 100, 85.7 and 57.1% at one, 3 and 5 years, respectively. Three died of bronchiolitis obliterans and 2 necropsies did not show evidence of disease recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
LT is a therapeutic option in patients with S-LAM with an advanced respiratory functional impairment.
Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia, España.
Emilio
E
Ansótegui Barrera
Nuria
N
Mancheño Franch
Juan Carlos
JC
Peñalver Cuesta
Francisco
F
Vera-Sempere
José
J
Padilla Alarcón
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000401:mortality; D018192:Lymphangioleiomyomatosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Enfermedades raras; Linfangioleiomiomatosis; Lung transplant; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis; Rare diseases; Trasplante pulmonar