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Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2006; 27(5): 521-533
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-954609
Copyright © 2006 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Acute and Chronic Rejection after Lung Transplantation

Christiane Knoop1 , Marc Estenne1
  • 1Department of Chest Medicine, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
26 October 2006 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Over the last decade, improvements in surgical techniques, lung preservation, immunosuppression, and management of ischemia-reperfusion injury and infections have contributed to increase the 1 year patient survival after lung transplantation to 70 to 80%. However, the incidence of acute rejection remains higher than after other types of solid organ transplantation, and long-term survival is threatened by bronchiolitis obliterans, which is thought to be a form of chronic allograft rejection. This article reviews major aspects of clinical presentation, risk factors, diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic rejection after lung transplantation.

KEYWORDS

Lung transplantation - acute rejection - immunosuppression - bronchiolitis obliterans

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Marc EstenneM.D. 

Chest Service, Erasme University Hospital

808, Route de Lennik, B-1070 Brussels, Belgium

Email: mestenne@ulb.ac.be

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