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Rationale: Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a severe form of acute lung injury, leading to increased early morbidity and mortality after lung transplant. Obesity is a major health problem, and recipient obesity is one of the most significant risk factors for developing PGD. Objectives: We hypothesized that T-regulatory cells (Tregs) are able to dampen early ischemia-reperfusion events and thereby decrease the risk of PGD, whereas that action is impaired in obese recipients. Methods: We evaluated Tregs, T cells, and inflammatory markers, plus clinical data, in 79 lung transplant recipients and 41 liver or kidney transplant recipients and studied two groups of mice on a high-fat diet (HFD), which did ("inflammatory" HFD) or did not ("healthy" HFD) develop low-grade inflammation with decreased Treg function. Measurements and Main Results: We identified increased levels of IL-18 as a previously unrecognized mechanism that impairs Tregs' suppressive function in obese individuals. IL-18 decreases levels of FOXP3, the key Treg transcription factor, decreases FOXP3 di- and oligomerization, and increases the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of FOXP3. IL-18-treated Tregs or Tregs from obese mice fail to control PGD, whereas IL-18 inhibition ameliorates lung inflammation. The IL-18-driven impairment in Tregs' suppressive function before transplant was associated with an increased risk and severity of PGD in clinical lung transplant recipients. Conclusions: Obesity-related IL-18 induces Treg dysfunction that may contribute to the pathogenesis of PGD. Evaluation of Tregs' suppressive function together with evaluation of IL-18 levels may serve as a screening tool to identify obese individuals with an increased risk of PGD before transplant.

Background: Previous studies have reported similarities in long-term outcomes following lung transplantation for connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, it is unknown whether CTD-ILD patients are at increased risk of primary graft dysfunction (PGD), delays in extubation, or longer index hospitalizations following transplant compared to IPF patients., Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of CTD-ILD and IPF patients enrolled in the Lung Transplant Outcomes Group registry who underwent lung transplantation between 2012 and 2018. We utilized mixed effects logistic regression and stratified Cox proportional hazards regression to determine whether CTD-ILD was independently associated with increased risk for grade 3 PGD or delays in post-transplant extubation and hospital discharge compared to IPF., Results: A total of 32.7% (33/101) of patients with CTD-ILD and 28.9% (145/501) of patients with IPF developed grade 3 PGD 48-72 hours after transplant. There were no significant differences in odds of grade 3 PGD among patients with CTD-ILD compared to those with IPF (adjusted OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.64-1.97, p = 0.69), nor was CTD-ILD independently associated with a longer post-transplant time to extubation (adjusted HR for first extubation 0.87, 95% CI 0.66-1.13, p = 0.30). However, CTD-ILD was independently associated with a longer post-transplant hospital length of stay (median 23 days [IQR 14-35 days] vs17 days [IQR 12-28 days], adjusted HR for hospital discharge 0.68, 95% CI 0.51-0.90, p = 0.008)., Conclusion: Patients with CTD-ILD experienced significantly longer postoperative hospitalizations compared to IPF patients without an increased risk of grade 3 PGD., (Copyright © 2021 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) allows for a reassessment of lung grafts initially deemed unsuitable for transplantation, increasing the available donor pool; however, this requires a pre- and post-EVLP period of cold ischemic time (CIT). Paucity of data exists on how the sequence of cold normothermic-cold preservations affect outcomes., Methods: A total of 110 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Duration of 3 preservation phases was measured: cold pre-EVLP, EVLP, and cold post-EVLP. The donor and recipient clinical data were collected. Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) and survival were monitored. Risk of mortality or PGD was calculated using Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression models to adjust for baseline characteristics., Results: Using the highest quartile, patients were stratified into extended vs non-extended pre-EVLP (<264 vs ≥264 minutes) and post-EVLP (<287 vs ≥287 minutes) CIT. The rates of 1-year mortality (8.4% vs 29.6%, p = 0.013), PGD 2-3 (20.5% vs 52%, p = 0.002), and PGD 3 (8.4% vs 29.6%, p = 0.005) at 72 hours were increased in the extended post-EVLP CIT group. After adjusting for baseline risk factors, the extended group remained an independent predictor of PGD ≥2 (odd ratio: 6.18, 95% CI: 1.88-20.3, p = 0.003) and PGD 3 (odd ratio: 20.4, 95% CI: 2.56-161.9, p = 0.004) at 72 hours and 1-year mortality (hazard ratio: 17.9, 95% CI: 3.36-95.3, p = 0.001). Cold pre-EVLP was not a significant predictor of primary outcomes., Conclusions: Extended cold post-EVLP preservation is associated with a risk for PGD and 1-year mortality. Pre-EVLP CIT does not increase mortality or high-grade PGD. These findings from a multicenter trial should caution on the implementation of extended cold preservation after EVLP., (Copyright © 2020 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation. The contribution of specific adipose tissue depots is unknown., Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study of adult lung transplant recipients at 4 U.S. transplant centers. We measured cross-sectional areas of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) on chest and abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans and indexed each measurement to height. 2 We used logistic regression to examine the associations of adipose indices and adipose classes with grade 3 PGD at 48 or 72 hours, and Cox proportional hazards models to examine survival. We used latent class analyses to identify the patterns of adipose distribution. We examined the associations of adipose indices with plasma biomarkers of obesity and PGD., Results: A total of 262 and 117 subjects had available chest CT scans and underwent protocol abdominal CT scans, respectively. In the adjusted models, a greater abdominal SAT index was associated with an increased risk of PGD (odds ratio 1.9, 95% CI 1.02-3.4, p = 0.04) but not with survival time. VAT indices were not associated with PGD risk or survival time. A greater abdominal SAT index correlated with greater pre- and post-transplant leptin (r = 0.61, p < 0.001, and r = 0.44, p < 0.001), pre-transplant IL-1RA (r = 0.25, p = 0.04), and post-transplant ICAM-1 (r = 0.25, p = 0.04). We identified 3 latent patterns of adiposity. The class defined by high thoracic and abdominal SAT had the greatest risk of PGD., Conclusions: Subcutaneous, but not visceral, adiposity is associated with an increased risk of PGD after lung transplantation., (Copyright © 2019 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is acute lung injury within 72 hours of lung transplantation. We hypothesized that cell-free hemoglobin (CFH) contributes to PGD by increasing lung microvascular permeability and tested this in patients, ex vivo human lungs, and cultured human lung microvascular endothelial cells. In a nested case control study of 40 patients with severe PGD at 72 hours and 80 matched controls without PGD, elevated preoperative CFH was independently associated with increased PGD risk (odds ratio [OR] 2.75, 95%CI, 1.23-6.16, P = 0.014). The effect of CFH on PGD was magnified by reperfusion fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) ≥ 0.40 (OR 3.41, P = 0.031). Isolated perfused human lungs exposed to intravascular CFH (100 mg/dl) developed increased vascular permeability as measured by lung weight (CFH 14.4% vs. control 0.65%, P = 0.047) and extravasation of Evans blue-labeled albumin dye (EBD) into the airspace (P = 0.027). CFH (1 mg/dl) also increased paracellular permeability of human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell monolayers (hPMVECs). Hyperoxia (FiO2 = 0.95) increased human lung and hPMVEC permeability compared with normoxia (FiO2 = 0.21). Treatment with acetaminophen (15 μg/ml), a specific hemoprotein reductant, prevented CFH-dependent permeability in human lungs (P = 0.046) and hPMVECs (P = 0.037). In summary, CFH may mediate PGD through oxidative effects on microvascular permeability, which are augmented by hyperoxia and abrogated by acetaminophen.

Rationale: Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a form of acute lung injury that occurs after lung transplantation. The definition of PGD was standardized in 2005. Since that time, clinical practice has evolved, and this definition is increasingly used as a primary endpoint for clinical trials; therefore, validation is warranted., Objectives: We sought to determine whether refinements to the 2005 consensus definition could further improve construct validity., Methods: Data from the Lung Transplant Outcomes Group multicenter cohort were used to compare variations on the PGD definition, including alternate oxygenation thresholds, inclusion of additional severity groups, and effects of procedure type and mechanical ventilation. Convergent and divergent validity were compared for mortality prediction and concurrent lung injury biomarker discrimination., Measurements and Main Results: A total of 1,179 subjects from 10 centers were enrolled from 2007 to 2012. Median length of follow-up was 4 years (interquartile range = 2.4-5.9). No mortality differences were noted between no PGD (grade 0) and mild PGD (grade 1). Significantly better mortality discrimination was evident for all definitions using later time points (48, 72, or 48-72 hours; P < 0.001). Biomarker divergent discrimination was superior when collapsing grades 0 and 1. Additional severity grades, use of mechanical ventilation, and transplant procedure type had minimal or no effect on mortality or biomarker discrimination., Conclusions: The PGD consensus definition can be simplified by combining lower PGD grades. Construct validity of grading was present regardless of transplant procedure type or use of mechanical ventilation. Additional severity categories had minimal impact on mortality or biomarker discrimination.

Rationale: Pulmonary hypertension from pulmonary arterial hypertension or parenchymal lung disease is associated with an increased risk for primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation., Objective: We evaluated the clinical determinants of severe primary graft dysfunction in pulmonary hypertension and developed and validated a prognostic model., Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients in the multicenter Lung Transplant Outcomes Group with pulmonary hypertension at transplant listing. Severe primary graft dysfunction was defined as Pa O 2 /Fi O 2 ≤200 with allograft infiltrates at 48 or 72 hours after transplantation. Donor, recipient, and operative characteristics were evaluated in a multivariable explanatory model. A prognostic model derived using donor and recipient characteristics was then validated in a separate cohort., Results: In the explanatory model of 826 patients with pulmonary hypertension, donor tobacco smoke exposure, higher recipient body mass index, female sex, listing mean pulmonary artery pressure, right atrial pressure and creatinine at transplant, cardiopulmonary bypass use, transfusion volume, and reperfusion fraction of inspired oxygen were associated with primary graft dysfunction. Donor obesity was associated with a lower risk for primary graft dysfunction. Using a 20% threshold for elevated risk, the prognostic model had good negative predictive value in both derivation and validation cohorts (89.1% [95% confidence interval, 85.3-92.8] and 83.3% [95% confidence interval, 78.5-88.2], respectively), but low positive predictive value., Conclusions: Several recipient, donor, and operative characteristics were associated with severe primary graft dysfunction in patients with pulmonary hypertension, including several risk factors not identified in the overall transplant population. A prognostic model with donor and recipient clinical risk factors alone had low positive predictive value, but high negative predictive value, to rule out high risk for primary graft dysfunction.

Obesity is a risk factor for primary graft dysfunction (PGD), a form of lung injury resulting from ischemia-reperfusion after lung transplantation, but the impact of ischemia-reperfusion on adipose tissue is unknown. We evaluated differential gene expression in thoracic visceral adipose tissue (VAT) before and after lung reperfusion. Total RNA was isolated from thoracic VAT sampled from six subjects enrolled in the Lung Transplant Body Composition study before and after allograft reperfusion and quantified using the Human Gene 2.0 ST array. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed enrichment for genes involved in complement and coagulation cascades and Jak-STAT signaling pathways. Overall, 72 genes were upregulated and 56 genes were downregulated in the postreperfusion time compared with baseline. Long pentraxin-3, a gene and plasma protein previously associated with PGD, was the most upregulated gene (19.5-fold increase, p = 0.04). Fibronectin leucine-rich transmembrane protein-3, a gene associated with cell adhesion and receptor signaling, was the most downregulated gene (4.3-fold decrease, p = 0.04). Ischemia-reperfusion has a demonstrable impact on gene expression in visceral adipose tissue in our pilot study of nonobese, non-PGD lung transplant recipients. Future evaluation will focus on differential adipose tissue gene expression and the development of PGD after transplant., (© Copyright 2016 The American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.)

Background: Adults with primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation are at increased risk for pulmonary and functional impairment. No prior studies have described the long-term (within 1.5 years of transplant) cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) results in adults with grade 3 PGD. The objective of this study was to compare the functional outcomes of lung transplant patients with and without grade 3 PGD via CPET and six-minute talk tests (6MWD)., Methods: 243 adults underwent lung transplantation between 2003 and 2010, 128 (53%) of whom underwent CPET and 6MWD within 12-18 months of transplantation. The primary measure of exposure was grade 3 PGD at 72 h, however grade 3 PGD within 72 h was also assessed. In addition, the impact of potential confounding variables was explored., Results: Approximately one-third (32%) of the 243 patients experienced grade 3 PGD within 72 h; among these, 15 (6%) had grade 3 PGD at the 72 h time point. There were no differences in CPET or 6MWD between those with and without grade 3 PGD at 72 h despite a longer length of hospital stay and lower pulmonary function. Similar results were seen for patients with and without grade 3 PGD within 72 h, with the exception of a lower heart rate on CPET., Conclusions: Participants with grade 3 PGD are able to achieve functional outcomes comparable to those without PGD., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Donor smoking history and higher fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) at reperfusion are associated with primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation. We hypothesized that oxidative injury biomarkers would be elevated in PGD, with higher levels associated with donor exposure to cigarette smoke and recipient hyperoxia at reperfusion., Methods: We performed a nested case-control study of 72 lung transplant recipients from the Lung Transplant Outcomes Group cohort. Using mass spectroscopy, F2-isoprostanes and isofurans were measured in plasma collected after transplantation. Cases were defined in 2 ways: grade 3 PGD present at day 2 or day 3 after reperfusion (severe PGD) or any grade 3 PGD (any PGD)., Results: There were 31 severe PGD cases with 41 controls and 35 any PGD cases with 37 controls. Plasma F2-isoprostane levels were higher in severe PGD cases compared with controls (28.6 pg/ml vs 19.8 pg/ml, p = 0.03). Plasma F2-isoprostane levels were higher in severe PGD cases compared with controls (29.6 pg/ml vs 19.0 pg/ml, p = 0.03) among patients reperfused with FIO2 >40%. Among recipients of lungs from donors with smoke exposure, plasma F2-isoprostane (38.2 pg/ml vs 22.5 pg/ml, p = 0.046) and isofuran (66.9 pg/ml vs 34.6 pg/ml, p = 0.046) levels were higher in severe PGD compared with control subjects., Conclusions: Plasma levels of lipid peroxidation products are higher in patients with severe PGD, in recipients of lungs from donors with smoke exposure, and in recipients exposed to higher Fio2 at reperfusion. Oxidative injury is an important mechanism of PGD and may be magnified by donor exposure to cigarette smoke and hyperoxia at reperfusion., (Copyright © 2016 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rationale: Biologic pathways with significant genetic conservation across human populations have been implicated in the pathogenesis of primary graft dysfunction (PGD). The evaluation of the role of recipient genetic variation in PGD has thus far been limited to single, candidate gene analyses., Objectives: We sought to identify genetic variants in lung transplant recipients that are responsible for increased risk of PGD using a two-phase large-scale genotyping approach., Methods: Phase 1 was a large-scale candidate gene association study of the multicenter, prospective Lung Transplant Outcomes Group cohort. Phase 2 included functional evaluation of selected variants and a bioinformatics screening of variants identified in phase 1., Measurements and Main Results: After genetic data quality control, 680 lung transplant recipients were included in the analysis. In phase 1, a total of 17 variants were significantly associated with PGD, four of which were in the prostaglandin E2 family of genes. Among these were a coding variant in the gene encoding prostaglandin E2 synthase (PTGES2; P = 9.3 × 10(-5)) resulting in an arginine to histidine substitution at amino acid position 298, and three variants in a block containing the 5' promoter and first intron of the PTGER4 gene (encoding prostaglandin E2 receptor subtype 4; all P < 5 × 10(-5)). Functional evaluation in regulatory T cells identified that rs4434423A in the PTGER4 gene was associated with differential suppressive function of regulatory T cells., Conclusions: Further research aimed at replication and additional functional insight into the role played by genetic variation in prostaglandin E2 synthetic and signaling pathways in PGD is warranted.

Background: There is significant heterogeneity within the primary graft dysfunction (PGD) syndrome. We aimed to identify distinct grade 3 PGD phenotypes based on severity of lung dysfunction and patterns of resolution., Methods: Subjects from the Lung Transplant Outcomes Group (LTOG) cohort study with grade 3 PGD within 72 h after transplantation were included. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to statistically identify classes based on changes in PGD International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation grade over time. Construct validity of the classes was assessed by testing for divergence of recipient, donor, and operative characteristics between classes. Predictive validity was assessed using time to death., Results: Of 1,255 subjects, 361 had grade 3 PGD within the first 72 h after transplantation. LCA identified three distinct phenotypes: (1) severe persistent dysfunction (class 1), (2) complete resolution of dysfunction within 72 h (class 2), and (3) attenuation, without complete resolution within 72 h (class 3). Increased use of cardiopulmonary bypass, greater RBC transfusion, and higher mean pulmonary artery pressure were associated with persistent PGD (class 1). Subjects in class 1 also had the greatest risk of death (hazard ratio, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.57-3.63; P &lt; .001)., Conclusions: There are distinct phenotypes of resolution of dysfunction within the severe PGD syndrome. Subjects with early resolution may represent a different mechanism of lung pathology, such as resolving pulmonary edema, whereas those with persistent PGD may represent a more severe phenotype. Future studies aimed at PGD mechanism or treatment may focus on phenotypes based on resolution of graft dysfunction.

Rationale: Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is the main cause of early morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation. Previous studies have yielded conflicting results for PGD risk factors., Objectives: We sought to identify donor, recipient, and perioperative risk factors for PGD., Methods: We performed a 10-center prospective cohort study enrolled between March 2002 and December 2010 (the Lung Transplant Outcomes Group). The primary outcome was International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation grade 3 PGD at 48 or 72 hours post-transplant. The association of potential risk factors with PGD was analyzed using multivariable conditional logistic regression., Measurements and Main Results: A total of 1,255 patients from 10 centers were enrolled; 211 subjects (16.8%) developed grade 3 PGD. In multivariable models, independent risk factors for PGD were any history of donor smoking (odds ratio [OR], 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-2.6; P = 0.002); FiO2 during allograft reperfusion (OR, 1.1 per 10% increase in FiO2; 95% CI, 1.0-1.2; P = 0.01); single lung transplant (OR, 2; 95% CI, 1.2-3.3; P = 0.008); use of cardiopulmonary bypass (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 2.2-5.3; P < 0.001); overweight (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.7; P = 0.01) and obese (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.3-3.9; P = 0.004) recipient body mass index; preoperative sarcoidosis (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.1-5.6; P = 0.03) or pulmonary arterial hypertension (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.6-7.7; P = 0.002); and mean pulmonary artery pressure (OR, 1.3 per 10 mm Hg increase; 95% CI, 1.1-1.5; P < 0.001). PGD was significantly associated with 90-day (relative risk, 4.8; absolute risk increase, 18%; P < 0.001) and 1-year (relative risk, 3; absolute risk increase, 23%; P < 0.001) mortality., Conclusions: We identified grade 3 PGD risk factors, several of which are potentially modifiable and should be prioritized for future research aimed at preventative strategies. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 00552357).

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), also known as "chemokine ligand 2" (CCL2), is a monocyte-attracting chemokine produced in lung epithelial cells. We previously reported an association of increased levels of plasma MCP-1 with primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation in a nested case-control study of extreme phenotypes using a multiplex platform. In this study, we sought to evaluate the role of plasma MCP-1 level as a biomarker across the full spectrum of PGD. We performed a prospective cohort study of 108 lung transplant recipients within the Lung Transplant Outcomes Group cohort. Plasma MCP-1 levels were measured pretransplantation and 6 and 24 hours after transplantation. The primary outcome was development of grade 3 PGD within 72 hours of transplant, with secondary analyses at the 72-hour time point. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate confounding. Thirty subjects (28%) developed PGD. Median MCP-1 measured at 24 hours post-transplant was elevated in subjects with PGD (167.95 vs 103.5 pg/mL, P = .04). MCP-1 levels at 24 hours were associated with increased odds of grade 3 PGD after lung transplantation (odds ratio for each 100 pg/mL, 1.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.53) and with grade 3 PGD present at the 72-hour time point (odds ratio for each 100 pg/mL, 1.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-2.08), independent of confounding variables in multivariable analyses. MCP-1 levels measured preoperatively and 6 hours after transplant were not significantly associated with PGD. Persistent elevations in MCP-1 levels at 24 hours are a biomarker of grade 3 PGD post-transplantation. Monocyte chemotaxis may play a role in the pathogenesis of PGD., (Copyright © 2012 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rationale: Elevated long pentraxin-3 (PTX3) levels are associated with the development of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation. Abnormalities in innate immunity, mediated by PTX3 release, may play a role in PGD pathogenesis., Objectives: Our goal was to test whether variants in the gene encoding PTX3 are risk factors for PGD., Methods: We performed a candidate gene association study in recipients from the multicenter, prospective Lung Transplant Outcomes Group cohort enrolled between July 2002 and July 2009. The primary outcome was International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation grade 3 PGD within 72 hours of transplantation. Targeted genotyping of 10 haplotype-tagging PTX3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was performed in lung transplant recipients. The association between PGD and each SNP was evaluated by logistic regression, adjusting for pretransplantation lung disease, cardiopulmonary bypass use, and population stratification. The association between SNPs and plasma PTX3 levels was tested across genotypes in a subset of recipients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis., Measurements and Main Results: Six hundred fifty-four lung transplant recipients were included. The incidence of PGD was 29%. Two linked 5' region variants, rs2120243 and rs2305619, were associated with PGD (odds ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 1.9; P = 0.006 and odds ratio, 1.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 1.9; P = 0.007, respectively). The minor allele of rs2305619 was significantly associated with higher plasma PTX3 levels measured pretransplantation (P = 0.014) and at 24 hours (P = 0.047) after transplantation in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis., Conclusions: Genetic variants of PTX3 are associated with PGD after lung transplantation, and are associated with increased PTX3 plasma levels.

Background: We aimed to identify combinations of biomarkers to enhance the definition of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) for translational research., Methods: Biomarkers reflecting lung epithelial injury (soluble receptor for advance glycation end products [sRAGE] and surfactant protein-D [SP-D]), coagulation cascade (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 [PAI-1] and protein C), and cell adhesion (intracellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1]) were measured in the plasma of 315 individuals derived from the Lung Transplant Outcomes Group cohort at 6 and 24 hours after transplantation. We assessed biomarker utility in 2 ways: first, we tested the discrimination of grade 3 PGD within 72 hours; second, we tested the predictive utility of plasma biomarkers for 90-day mortality., Results: PGD developed in 86 of 315 individuals (27%). Twenty-patients (8%) died within 90 days of transplantation, of which 16 (70%) had PGD. Biomarkers measured at 24 hours had greater discrimination than at 6 hours. Individually, sRAGE (area under the curve [AUC], 0.71) and PAI-1 (AUC, 0.73) had the best discrimination of PGD. The combinations of sRAGE with PAI-1 (AUC, 0.75), PAI-1 with ICAM-1 (AUC, 0.75), and PAI-1 with SP-D (AUC, 0.76) had the best discrimination. Combinations of greater than 2 biomarkers did not significantly enhance discrimination of PGD. ICAM-1 with PAI-1 (AUC, 0.72) and ICAM-1 with sRAGE (AUC, 0.72) had the best prediction for 90-day mortality. The addition of ICAM-1, PAI-1, or sRAGE to the concurrent clinical PGD grade significantly improved the prediction of 90-day mortality (p < 0.001 each)., Conclusions: Measurement of the combination of a marker of impaired fibrinolysis with an epithelial injury or cell adhesion marker had the best discrimination for PGD and prediction for early death and may provide an alternative outcome useful in future research., (Copyright © 2012 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) frequently complicates lung transplantation in the immediate postoperative period. Both female gender and estradiol modulate the body's response to injury and can influence the rate of alveolar fluid clearance., Objective: We hypothesized that female gender and higher estradiol levels would be associated with a lower risk of PGD after lung transplantation., Methods: We measured plasma estradiol levels preoperatively, 6 hours postoperatively, and 24 hours postoperatively in a cohort of 111 lung transplant recipients at 2 institutions., Results: Mean age was 57 years (12.5) and 52% were female. Median postoperative estradiol level was 63.9 pg/mL (interquartile range, 28.8-154.3 pg/mL) in male and 65.1 pg/mL (interquartile range, 28.4-217.2 pg/mL) in female patients. Contrary to our hypothesis, higher estradiol levels at 24 hours were associated with an increased risk of PGD at 72 hours in male patients (P = 0.001). This association was preserved when accounting for other factors known to be associated with PGD. However, there was no relationship between gender and risk of PGD or between estradiol levels and PGD in females., Conclusion: These findings suggest that there might be different biologic effects of estrogens in males and females, and highlight the importance of considering gender differences in future studies of PGD., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier HS Journals, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a significant contributor to early morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation. Increased vascular permeability in the allograft has been identified as a possible mechanism leading to PGD. Angiopoietin-2 serves as a partial antagonist to the Tie-2 receptor and induces increased endothelial permeability. We hypothesized that elevated Ang2 levels would be associated with development of PGD., Methods: We performed a case-control study, nested within the multi-center Lung Transplant Outcomes Group cohort. Plasma angiopoietin-2 levels were measured pre-transplant and 6 and 24 hours post-reperfusion. The primary outcome was development of grade 3 PGD in the first 72 hours. The association of angiopoietin-2 plasma levels and PGD was evaluated using generalized estimating equations (GEE)., Results: There were 40 PGD subjects and 79 non-PGD subjects included for analysis. Twenty-four PGD subjects (40%) and 47 non-PGD subjects (59%) received a transplant for the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Among all subjects, GEE modeling identified a significant change in angiopoietin-2 level over time in cases compared to controls (p = 0.03). The association between change in angiopoietin-2 level over the perioperative time period was most significant in patients with a pre-operative diagnosis of IPF (p = 0.02); there was no statistically significant correlation between angiopoietin-2 plasma levels and the development of PGD in the subset of patients transplanted for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (p = 0.9)., Conclusions: Angiopoietin-2 levels were significantly associated with the development of PGD after lung transplantation. Further studies examining the regulation of endothelial cell permeability in the pathogenesis of PGD are indicated.

Rationale: Obesity has been linked to acute lung injury and is a risk factor for early mortality after lung transplantation., Objectives: To examine the associations of obesity and plasma adipokines with the risk of primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation., Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study of 512 adult lung transplant recipients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or interstitial lung disease enrolled in the Lung Transplant Outcomes Group Study. In a nested case-control study, we measured plasma leptin, adiponectin, and resistin before lung transplantation and 6 and 24 hours after lung transplantation in 40 cases of primary graft dysfunction and 80 control subjects. Generalized linear mixed models and logistic regression were used to estimate risk ratios and odds ratios., Measurements and Main Results: Grade 3 primary graft dysfunction developed within 72 hours of transplantation in 29% participants. Obesity was associated with a twofold increased risk of primary graft dysfunction (adjusted risk ratio 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-2.6). The risk of primary graft dysfunction increased by 40% (confidence interval, 30–50%) for each 5 kg/m(2) increase in body mass index after accounting for center, diagnosis, cardiopulmonary bypass, and transplant procedure. Higher plasma leptin levels were associated with a greater risk of primary graft dysfunction (sex-adjusted P = 0.02). The associations of both obesity and leptin with primary graft dysfunction tended to be stronger among those who did not undergo cardiopulmonary bypass., Conclusions: Obesity is an independent risk factor for primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is often associated with elevations in pulmonary artery pressures. Although primary pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has been associated with primary graft dysfunction (PGD), the role of secondary PAH in mediating PGD risk in patients with IPF is incompletely understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and PGD among patients with IPF., Methods: We performed a multicenter prospective cohort study of 126 lung transplant procedures performed for IPF between March 2002 and August 2007. The primary outcome was grade 3 PGD at 72 h after lung transplant. The mPAP was measured as the initial reading following insertion of the right-sided heart catheter during lung transplant. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounding variables., Results: The mPAP for patients with PGD was 38.5 ± 16.3 mm Hg vs 29.6 ± 11.5 mm Hg for patients without PGD (mean difference, 8.9 mm Hg [95% CI, 3.6-14.2]; P = .001). The increase in odds of PGD associated with each 10-mm Hg increase in mPAP was 1.64 (95% CI, 1.18-2.26; P = .003). In multivariable models, this relationship was independent of confounding by other clinical variables, although the use of cardiopulmonary bypass partially attenuated the relationship., Conclusions: Higher mPAP in patients with IPF is associated with the development of PGD.

Rationale: The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is an important marker of lung epithelial injury and may be associated with impaired alveolar fluid clearance. We hypothesized that patients with primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation would have higher RAGE levels in plasma than patients without PGD., Objectives: To test the association of soluble RAGE (sRAGE) levels with PGD in a prospective, multicenter cohort study., Methods: We measured plasma levels of sRAGE at 6 and 24 hours after allograft reperfusion in 317 lung transplant recipients at seven centers. The primary outcome was grade 3 PGD (Pa(O(2))/Fi(O(2)) < 200 with alveolar infiltrates) within the first 72 hours after transplantation., Measurements and Main Results: Patients who developed PGD had higher levels of sRAGE than patients without PGD at both 6 hours (median 9.3 ng/ml vs. 7.5 ng/ml, respectively; P = 0.028) and at 24 hours post-transplantation (median 4.3 ng/ml vs. 1.9 ng/ml, respectively; P < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated that the relationship between levels of sRAGE and PGD was attenuated by elevated right heart pressures and by the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Median sRAGE levels were higher in subjects with cardiopulmonary bypass at both 6 hours (P = 0.003) and 24 hours (P < 0.001). sRAGE levels at 6 hours were significantly associated with intraoperative red cell transfusion (Spearman's rho = 0.39, P = 0.002 in those with PGD), and in multivariable linear regression analyses this association was independent of confounding variables (P = 0.02)., Conclusions: Elevated plasma levels of sRAGE are associated with PGD after lung transplantation. Furthermore, plasma sRAGE levels are associated with blood product transfusion and use of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background: Platelet activation with subsequent neutrophilic adherence to the vasculature initiates ischemia-reperfusion injury. We hypothesized that higher plasma P-selectin levels reflecting platelet activation would therefore be associated with primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation., Methods: In a prospective, multicenter cohort study of 376 patients who had undergone lung transplantation between 2002 and 2007, we measured soluble P-selectin levels before lung transplantation and at 6 and 24 h after lung reperfusion in 20 patients with grade III PGD (Pao(2)/fraction of inspired oxygen, < 200 mm Hg [with alveolar infiltrates seen on chest radiographs]) at 72 h after transplantation and 61 control subjects without PGD., Results: Higher postoperative soluble P-selectin levels were associated with an increased risk of PGD at 72 h after transplantation (odds ratio [OR] per 1 natural log increase in soluble P-selectin at 6 h after lung allograft reperfusion, 3.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 11.8; p = 0.048) and at 24 h after lung allograft reperfusion (OR, 4.8; 95% CI, 1.4 to 16.1; p = 0.01). Higher preoperative mean pulmonary artery pressure and the use of cardiopulmonary bypass were also associated with an increased risk of PGD., Conclusion: Higher postoperative soluble P-selectin levels were associated with an increased risk of PGD at 72 h following lung transplantation.