Non-tuberculous mycobacterium infection after lung transplantation is associated with increased mortality.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection is relatively common after lung transplantation, but the effect on mortality remains undetermined. Herein we describe our experience with pulmonary NTM infection after lung transplantation and hypothesized that non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection after lung transplantation would be associated with increased mortality.

METHODS:

We retrospectively evaluated 201 primary lung transplant recipients transplanted between January 2000 and August 2006. Serial bronchoscopies with bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsy were performed according to a surveillance protocol and when clinically indicated. The diagnosis NTM infection was established by a positive NTM culture in a bronchoalveolar lavage sample or in at least two separate expectorated sputum samples. NTM infections were further classified as "disease" or "colonization," based on whether or not NTM infection patients developed symptoms and characteristic radiographic findings.

RESULTS:

Thirty-six (18%) recipients were diagnosed with pulmonary NTM infection at a median of 97 days post-transplantation: 9 were classified as NTM disease and the remaining 27 as NTM colonization cases. Single lung transplant was a significant risk factor for NTM infection (HR 2.25, p = 0.02). NTM colonization was a risk factor for NTM disease (HR 8.39, p = 0.003). NTM infection significantly increased the risk of death after lung transplantation (HR 2.61, p = 0.001) and persisted in multivariate models controlling for single lung transplant and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. The increased risk was seen for both NTM colonization and NTM disease. Among the patients who died, non-NTM infection was a more common contributing factor in the cause of death for the NTM infection group (44% vs 12%, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS:

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection is common after lung transplantation. NTM colonization and treated acute rejection are risk factors for NTM disease. NTM infection is associated with increased risk of mortality independent of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome.

• Authors: Hsuanwen C Huang, S Samuel Weigt, Ariss Derhovanessian, Vyacheslav Palchevskiy, Abbas Ardehali, Rajan Saggar, Rajeev Saggar, Bernard Kubak, Aric Gregson, David J Ross, Joseph P Lynch 3rd, Robert Elashoff, John A Belperio
• Journal: The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation (J Heart Lung Transplant) Vol. 30 Issue 7 Pg. 790-8 (Jul 2011) ISSN: 1557-3117 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21482148 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Cause of Death
• Female
• Humans
• Lung Diseases (microbiology, mortality)
• Lung Transplantation (adverse effects)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mycobacterium Infections (microbiology, mortality)
• Prognosis
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Factors