| Title | The use of multiple transbronchial biopsies as the standard approach to evaluate lung allograft rejection. | | Author(s) | Faro A, Visner G | | Institution | Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Box 100296, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. faroal@peds.ufl.edu | | Source | Pediatr Transplant 2004 Aug; 8(4):322-8. | | MeSH | Adolescent
Adult
Biopsy
Bronchi
Bronchoscopy
Child
Child, Preschool
Graft Rejection
Hemorrhage
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Lung Transplantation
Pneumothorax
Thrombocytopenia
Transplantation, Homologous
| | Abstract | Flexible bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy (TBB) is routinely performed in adult and pediatric lung transplant recipients. The clinical signs and symptoms of acute cellular rejection (ACR) are often identical to those of infection. TBB is a fairly sensitive and specific tool in which to diagnose ACR and can be performed safely in children of all ages. The utility of TBB is unquestioned during periods of worsening clinical symptoms. The utility of TBB for routine surveillance of the allograft remains unproven. The data suggests that during the first 4-6 months post-transplant there is a high incidence of clinically silent ACR. The significance of subclinical rejection in lung transplantation is unknown. Randomized, controlled trials are required to determine if multiple surveillance TBB, can impact the incidence of obliterative bronchiolitis. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
Review
| | PubMed ID | 15265155 |
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