Lung transplantation for lymphangioleiomyomatosis: single-center Brazilian experience with no chylothorax

Lung transplantation for lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare cystic lung disease, associated with respiratory symptoms of dyspnea and spontaneous pneumothorax, along with various extra-thoracic manifestations. Often a progressive disease, albeit slowly, patients can develop chronic and severe respiratory failure and require supplemental oxygen. Lung transplantation (LTX) can offer improved duration and quality of life for patients with end-stage lung disease due to LAM. There are several unique considerations for LTX in LAM patients, and disease-specific complications of LAM prior to LTX can affect management decisions. Furthermore, there are several possible post-transplant issues specific to LAM. In this review, we discuss evaluation and management, disease-specific complications (both pre- and post-transplant), and outcomes for LAM patients undergoing lung transplantation.

Perioperative management of thoracic surgery in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Background

General surgery for patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is infrequent, however, general surgeons also occasionally experience it. Only a few reports have described the specific perioperative management appropriate for patients with LAM. Hence, in this case series, we aimed to investigate the surgical outcomes of LAM patients and their characteristics.

Case presentation

Medical records of 4482 patients who underwent thoracic surgery between 2009 and 2017 at our institution were assessed. Twelve patients were diagnosed with LAM. Details of the postoperative courses and surgical outcomes of LAM patients were retrospectively examined.

All LAM patients were female (age 41.3 ± 10.6 years). Surgeries were performed for patients undergoing biopsy (n = 4) and those with pneumothorax (n = 3), lung cancer (n = 2), and other conditions (n = 3). The mortality rate was 0% and the length of hospital stay was 27.4 ± 8.9 days. Ten postoperative complications occurred in six patients (50%): hypoxemia (n = 5), chylothorax (n = 2), and prolonged air leakage (n = 3).

Conclusions

Thoracic surgery may pose a risk of postoperative complications and long hospitalization for patients with LAM, although it lowers the risk of fatality. Management of perioperative air and chyle leakages and lymphatic stasis in the lungs is important for preventing morbidities.

Computer grading of lung disease severity in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis referred for transplantation

Objectives

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) patients with severe lung disease may be considered for lung transplantation. Clinical, physiologic, and quality of life data are usually employed for referral. The aim of this study was to determine whether computed tomographic measurement of lung volume occupied by cysts (cyst score) complemented clinical and physiologic data in supporting referral for transplantation.

Methods

Forty-one patients were studied. Pre-referral clinical data, pulmonary function tests, exercise testing, and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans were obtained. From HRCT, a computer-aided diagnostic program was employed to calculate cyst scores. These data were compared to those of 41 age-matched LAM patients not referred for lung transplantation.

Results

Cyst score, and % predicted FEV1 and DLCO were respectively, 48.1 ± 9.4%, 36.5 ± 9.1%, and 35.0 ± 10.7%. For the control group, cyst score, FEV1, and DLCO were respectively, 14.8 ± 8.3%, 77.2 ± 20.3%, and 66.7 ± 19.3%. Cyst score values showed a normal distribution. However, the frequency distribution of FEV1 was skewed to the right while the distribution of DLCO was bimodal. Correlations between cyst score and FEV1 and DLCO for the study group were respectively, r = − 0.319 and r = − 0.421.

Conclusions

LAM patients referred for lung transplantation had nearly 50% of lungs occupied by cysts. Correlations between cyst score and FEV1 or DLCO were weak; as shown previously, DLCO was better related to cyst number while FEV1 had a better association with cyst size. Given its normal distribution, cyst score measurements may assist in evaluation of pre-transplant severity of lung disease before referral for transplantation.

Thoracoscopy for Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is the treatment of choice for recurrence prevention in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). Although the optimal surgical technique is uncertain, bullous resection using staplers in combination with mechanical pleurodesis, chemical pleurodesis and/or staple line coverage is usually undertaken. Currently, patient satisfaction, postoperative pain and other perioperative parameters have significantly improved with advancements in thoracoscopic technology, which include uniportal, needlescopic and nonintubated VATS variants. Ipsilateral recurrences after VATS occur in less than 5% of patients, in which case a redo-VATS is a feasible therapeutical option. Randomized controlled trials are urgently needed to shed light on the best definitive management of SP.

Consensus document for the selection of lung transplant candidates: An update from the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation

Tens of thousands of patients with advanced lung diseases may be eligible to be considered as potential candidates for lung transplant around the world each year. The timing of referral, evaluation, determination of candidacy, and listing of candidates continues to pose challenges and even ethical dilemmas. To address these challenges, the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation appointed an international group of members to review the literature, to consider recent advances in the management of advanced lung diseases, and to update prior consensus documents on the selection of lung transplant candidates. The purpose of this updated consensus document is to assist providers throughout the world who are caring for patients with pulmonary disease to identify potential candidates for lung transplant, to optimize the timing of the referral of these patients to lung transplant centers, and to provide transplant centers with a framework for evaluating and selecting candidates. In addition to addressing general considerations and providing disease specific recommendations for referral and listing, this updated consensus document includes an ethical framework, a recognition of the variability in acceptance of risk between transplant centers, and establishes a system to account for how a combination of risk factors may be taken into consideration in candidate selection for lung transplantation.

A Retrospective Study of Lung Transplantation in Patients With Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: Challenges and Outcomes

Background: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare systemic disease that generally leads to a progressive decline in pulmonary function. Experience, especially from the Asian population, including combined drug therapy before and after lung transplantation (LT) in LAM, is still limited. This study aimed to summarize the clinical data from patients with pulmonary LAM who underwent LT at centers in China. Methods: A retrospective review of all patients with LAM undergoing LT at the two largest centers in China between 2010 and 2018 was conducted. Pre- and posttransplant data were assessed and analyzed. Results: Overall, 25 patients with LAM underwent bilateral LT. The mean age was 35.0 ± 8.6 years at diagnosis and 36.8 ± 9.3 years at the time of transplant. Before LT, only six patients could complete pulmonary function test; the reachable mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) before LT was 15.9 ± 6.9%. Twenty-one patients (84%) had a recurrent pneumothorax, four (16.0%) of which required pleurodesis. Eight patients (32%) were treated with sirolimus pretransplant for 3.9 years (1-9 years). The average intra-surgery bleeding volume was 1,280 ± 730 ml in need of a transfusion of 1,316 ± 874 ml due to moderate-to-severe adhesion and pretransplant pleurodesis. The causes of death of four patients (16%) included primary graft dysfunction, bronchial dehiscence with long-term use of sirolimus, and uncontrollable infections. The median follow-up time from LT was 41.1 ± 25.0 months. Conclusions: LT for LAM patients from the Asian population has been reinforced from the data that we presented. Peri-transplantation use of sirolimus and LAM-related complications should be further defined and under constant surveillance.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a clinical review

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a diffuse cystic lung disease. There are two main types of LAM: sporadic, and LAM associated with the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), which is caused by mutations in the TSC1 and TSC2 genes. LAM is characterised by cystic lung disease resulting in progressive dyspnoea, renal angiomyolipomas and lymphatic complications. Pneumothorax occurs frequently (70%) and definitive management with pleurodesis is recommended as the risk of recurrence is high. Characteristic thin-walled cysts are seen on computed tomography and the presence of elevated serum levels of a vascular endothelial growth factor-D has good diagnostic specificity. Currently, no single clinical or serological factor has been shown to predict prognosis. However, over the past decade, significant advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of LAM has led to improved recognition of this rare disease and identification of treatment options. Mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitors slow the rate of lung function decline and can resolve chylous effusion and regress angiomyolipomas. Life expectancy in patients with LAM is favourable, with a mean transplant-free survival >20 years from the time of diagnosis. Continued advances in understanding the molecular basis of LAM will lead to improved therapeutic targets and the development of more robust prognostic indicators.

Educational aims

To illustrate the clinical features, common presentations and radiological features of LAMTo outline the diagnostic approach to LAM, including the role of VEGF-DTo review the current prognostic indicators in LAM, and outline the impact of lung function, hormonal status, VEGF-D and clinical presentation on outcomeTo inform clinicians on the management options for LAM both pharmacological and nonpharmacological.

Favorable survival even with high disease-specific complication rates in lymphangioleiomyomatosis after lung transplantation-long-term follow-up of a Japanese center

BACKGROUND

Lung transplantation (LT) is a reliable therapeutic option for end-stage pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). Long-term outcome of LAM recipients after LT remains unknown. The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes of LT for LAM with a long-term follow-up, comparing those for other diseases in the same period.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed consecutive 145 LT recipients between 1998 and 2015 at Okayama University Hospital with minimum 3-year follow-up.

RESULTS

Twelve LAM recipients including nine sporadic-LAM and three tuberous sclerosis complex -LAM were identified. Nine of 12 underwent bilateral LT including four living-donor lobar LT. There was no significant difference in overall survival between the two groups. (P = 0.15). Chronic lung allograft dysfunction free survival rate in LAM compared with other diseases tended to be better (P = 0.058). However, the rate of requiring hemodialysis was significantly higher in LAM recipients than in the recipients of other diseases (P = 0.047). Notably, 8 of 12 (67%) LAM patients encountered LAM-related complication including chylothorax and pneumothorax, seven (58%) had proliferative diseases consisting of renal angiomyolipoma and recurrent LAM. Nine patients required mTOR inhibitors for LAM-related problems, contributing to improved control of LAM-related problems. While all nine recipients of bilateral LT have still survived, two patients died of diseases in their native lungs and one required re-LT among three recipients of single LT.

CONCLUSION

Although the rates of LAM-related complications were unexpectedly high in the long term, LT is a feasible therapeutic option for patients with advanced pulmonary LAM.

Clinical outcomes and survival following lung transplantation in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis

BACKGROUND

The primary aim of our study was to derive disease-specific outcomes following lung transplantation (LT) in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).

METHODS

We queried the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network database to identify LAM patients that have undergone LT in the United States. The overall survival was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier curves. Survival estimates between subgroups of interest were compared using the log-rank method. Cox proportional hazard models were employed to determine the pre-transplant variables that impact post-LT survival.

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty-eight women with LAM underwent LT at 31 centers between January 2003 and June 2017. The median age at listing and transplant was 44 (IQR: 36-51) and 45 (IQR: 38-52) years, respectively. The median time spent on the LT waitlist was 257 (IQR: 85-616) days. The majority of the patients (109/134, 81%) received bilateral sequential LT. The median ischemic time was 4.9 (IQR: 4.1-6.1) hours. The actuarial Kaplan-Meier survival following LT for LAM patients at 1-, 5-, and 10 years was 94%, 73% and 56%, respectively. The post-LT survival was significantly better in LAM than in other lung diseases (10-year survival 56% vs. 32%, p < 0.01), and this advantage persisted after age- and gender-matched analysis (10-year survival 54% vs. 37%, p < 0.01). Pre-transplant parameters, such as the presence of pulmonary hypertension, six-minute walk distance, age at transplant, ischemic time during transplant, or type of transplant (single vs bilateral sequential LT), did not affect post-transplant survival.

CONCLUSIONS

The median survival after LT in LAM is 12 years and is substantially better than in other lung diseases.

Single lung transplantation for lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a single-center experience in Japan

PURPOSE

Lung transplantation is accepted as an effective modality for patients with end-stage pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). Generally, bilateral lung transplantation is preferred to single lung transplantation (SLT) for LAM because of native lung-related complications, such as pneumothorax and chylothorax. It remains controversial whether SLT is a suitable surgical option for LAM. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morbidity, mortality and outcome after SLT for LAM in a lung transplant center in Japan.

METHODS

We reviewed the records of 29 patients who underwent SLT for LAM in our hospital between March, 2000 and November, 2017. The data collected included the pre-transplant demographics of recipients, surgical characteristics, complications, morbidity, mortality and survival after SLT for LAM.

RESULTS

The most common complication after SLT for LAM was contralateral pneumothorax (n = 7; 24.1%). Six of these recipients were treated successfully with chest-tube placement and none required surgery for the pneumothorax. The second-most common complication was chylous pleural effusion (n = 6; 20.7%) and these recipients were all successfully treated by pleurodesis. The 5-year survival rate after SLT for LAM was 79.5%.

CONCLUSION

LAM-related complications after SLT for this disease can be managed. SLT is a treatment option and may improve access to lung transplantation for patients with end-stage LAM.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Diagnosis and Management: High-Resolution Chest Computed Tomography, Transbronchial Lung Biopsy, and Pleural Disease Management. An Official American Thoracic Society/Japanese Respiratory Society Clinical Practice Guideline

BACKGROUND

Recommendations regarding key aspects related to the diagnosis and pharmacological treatment of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) were recently published. We now provide additional recommendations regarding four specific questions related to the diagnosis of LAM and management of pneumothoraces in patients with LAM.

METHODS

Systematic reviews were performed and then discussed by a multidisciplinary panel. For each intervention, the panel considered its confidence in the estimated effects, the balance of desirable (i.e., benefits) and undesirable (i.e., harms and burdens) consequences, patient values and preferences, cost, and feasibility. Evidence-based recommendations were then formulated, written, and graded using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach.

RESULTS

For women who have cystic changes on high-resolution computed tomography of the chest characteristic of LAM, but who have no additional confirmatory features of LAM (i.e., clinical, radiologic, or serologic), the guideline panel made conditional recommendations against making a clinical diagnosis of LAM on the basis of the high-resolution computed tomography findings alone and for considering transbronchial lung biopsy as a diagnostic tool. The guideline panel also made conditional recommendations for offering pleurodesis after an initial pneumothorax rather than postponing the procedure until the first recurrence and against pleurodesis being used as a reason to exclude patients from lung transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with LAM are provided. Frequent reassessment and updating will be needed.

Experience of Lung Transplantation in Patients with Lymphangioleiomyomatosis at a Brazilian Reference Centre

INTRODUCTION

Lung transplantation (LT) is the standard of care for patients with advanced lung diseases, including lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). LAM accounts for only 1% of all LTs performed in the international registry. As a result, the global experience, including the use of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors before and after LT in LAM, is still limited.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of all LAM patients who underwent LT at our centre between 2003 and 2016. Pre- and post-transplant data were assessed.

RESULTS

Eleven women with LAM underwent LT, representing 3.3% of all procedures. Ten (91%) patients underwent double-LT. The mean age at diagnosis was 39 ± 6 years and the mean FEV₁ before LT was 28 ± 14%. Only one patient underwent pleurodesis for recurrent pneumothorax. Pulmonary hypertension was confirmed in 3 (27%) patients. Four (36%) patients received sirolimus preoperatively; three of them received it until the day of LT, and there was no occurrence of bronchial anastomotic dehiscence after the procedure. Four patients (36%) received mTOR inhibitors post-transplant. The median follow-up from LT was 44 months. There were 3 deaths (27%) during the study and survival probabilities at 1, 3, and 5 years after LT were, 90, 90, and 77%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This data reinforces the role of LT for LAM patients with end-stage disease. The use of sirolimus seems to be safe before LT and the occurrence of complications after LT, including those LAM-related, should be continuously monitored.

A Total Pleural Covering for Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Prevents Pneumothorax Recurrence

Background

Spontaneous pneumothorax is a major and frequently recurrent complication of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). Despite the customary use of pleurodesis to manage pnenumothorax, the recurrence rate remains high, and accompanying pleural adhesions cause serious bleeding during subsequent lung transplantation. Therefore, we have developed a technique of total pleural covering (TPC) for LAM to wrap the entire visceral pleura with sheets of oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) mesh, thereby reinforcing the affected visceral pleura and preventing recurrence.

Methods

Since January 2003, TPC has been applied during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the treatment of LAM. The medical records of LAM patients who had TPC since that time and until August 2014 are reviewed.

Results

TPC was performed in 43 LAM patients (54 hemithoraces), 11 of whom required TPC bilaterally. Pneumothorax recurred in 14 hemithoraces (25.9%) from 11 patients (25.6%) after TPC. Kaplan-Meier estimates of recurrence-free hemithorax were 80.8% at 2.5 years, 71.7% at 5 years, 71.7% at 7.5 years, and 61.4% at 9 years. The recurrence-free probability was significantly better when 10 or more sheets of ORC mesh were utilized for TPC (P = 0.0018). TPC significantly reduced the frequency of pneumothorax: 0.544 ± 0.606 episode/month (mean ± SD) before TPC vs. 0.008 ± 0.019 after TPC (P<0.0001). Grade IIIa postoperative complications were found in 13 TPC surgeries (24.1%).

Conclusions

TPC successfully prevented the recurrence of pneumothorax in LAM, was minimally invasive and rarely caused restrictive ventilatory impairment.

Lung Transplantation for Lymphangioleiomyomatosis in Japan

Background

Lung transplantation has been established as the definitive treatment option for patients with advanced lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). However, the prognosis after registration and the circumstances of lung transplantation with sirolimus therapy have never been reported.

Methods

In this national survey, we analyzed data from 98 LAM patients registered for lung transplantation in the Japan Organ Transplantation Network.

Results

Transplantation was performed in 57 patients as of March 2014. Survival rate was 86.7% at 1 year, 82.5% at 3 years, 73.7% at 5 years, and 73.7% at 10 years. Of the 98 patients, 21 had an inactive status and received sirolimus more frequently than those with an active history (67% vs. 5%, p<0.001). Nine of twelve patients who remained inactive as of March 2014 initiated sirolimus before or while on a waiting list, and remained on sirolimus thereafter. Although the statistical analysis showed no statistically significant difference, the survival rate after registration tended to be better for lung transplant recipients than for those who awaited transplantation (p = 0.053).

Conclusions

Lung transplantation is a satisfactory therapeutic option for advanced LAM, but the circumstances for pre-transplantation LAM patients are likely to alter with the use of sirolimus.

Mayo clinic experience of lung transplantation in pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis

OBJECTIVES

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, cystic lung disease that generally results in progressive decline in lung function. Despite advancement of pharmacological therapy for LAM, lung transplantation remains an important option for women with end-stage LAM.

METHODS

Patients with LAM undergoing lung transplantation at the Mayo Clinic campuses in Rochester, Minnesota and Jacksonville, Florida since 1995 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Overall, 12 women underwent lung transplantation. Nine of 12 (75%) underwent double lung transplant. The mean age was 42 ± 8 years at the time of transplant. One patient (8%) had a chylothorax and 7 (58%) had recurrent pneumothoraces, 4 (33%) of which required pleurodesis. All had diffuse, cystic lung disease on chest CT consistent with LAM which was confirmed in the explant of all patients. The average length of ICU and hospital stays were 5 ± 4 and 19 ± 19 days, respectively. Mild to moderate anastomotic ischemia was evident in all patients but resolved with time. No patient was treated with sirolimus pre-transplant. Seven patients received sirolimus post-transplant; however, clinical benefit was documented in only 2 patients, 1 of which was treated for large retroperitoneal cysts with ureteral obstruction and another with persistent chylothorax and retroperitoneal lymphangioleimyomas. Five patients are deceased. The median survival by Kaplan-Meier analysis was 119 months with a median follow-up of 68 months (range 2-225 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Lung transplant remains a viable treatment for patients with end-stage LAM. The role of sirolimus peri-transplantation remains ill-defined.

[Lung transplantation in sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis: study of 7 cases]

BACKGROUND AND 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.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

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.