HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Permissions Request Permissions Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Milstone, A. P. Articles by Dummer, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Milstone, A. P. Articles by Dummer, S.

A single-season prospective study of respiratory viral infections in lung transplant recipients

Depts of ¹ Medicine and, ³ Surgery, and ² Vanderbilt Transplant Center, and ⁴ Clinical Virology Laboratory, Vanderbilt University Hospital, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.

CORRESPONDENCE: S. Dummer, 911 Oxford House, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. Fax: 1 6159361970. E-mail: stephen.dummer{at}vanderbilt.edu

Keywords: Lung transplantation, PCR, respiratory virus

Received: September 8, 2005
Accepted February 21, 2006

The frequency and complications of respiratory viral infections (RVI) were studied in 50 ambulatory lung transplant patients during a single winter season, using viral antigens, viral cultures and PCR of nasal washes or bronchoalveolar lavages. Patients' survival, episodes of acute rejection and occurrence of bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) or BO syndrome (BOS) were monitored for 1 yr after the study.

Overall, 32 (64%) patients had 49 symptomatic episodes. Documented infections included eight due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), one due to parainfluenza virus (PIV) and 10 due to influenza (FLU). Four of the FLU infections were serological rises without symptoms. Overall, 17 (34%) patients had documented viral infection; four patients had lower respiratory involvement and two (one RSV, one PIV) were hospitalised for aerosolised ribavirin treatment.

After 1 yr there were three (6%) deaths unrelated to RVI. BO or BOS had occurred in one (6%) out of 17 patients with and three (12%) out of 33 without RVI. Respiratory viruses infected one-third of ambulatory lung transplant recipients in a single season.

In conclusion, respiratory viral infection was not associated with subsequent graft dysfunction. Larger prospective studies are required to better define the acute and long-term morbidity of these infections.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. F. Remund, M. Best, and J. J. Egan Infections Relevant to Lung Transplantation Proceedings of the ATS, January 15, 2009; 6(1): 94 - 100. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Hopkins, K. McNeil, F. Kermeen, M. Musk, E. McQueen, I. Mackay, T. Sloots, and M. Nissen Human Metapneumovirus in Lung Transplant Recipients and Comparison to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., October 15, 2008; 178(8): 876 - 881. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]