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 Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Bhorade, S. M. Articles by Stern, E. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bhorade, S. M. Articles by Stern, E.

Immunosuppression for Lung Transplantation

¹ Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois

Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Sangeeta M. Bhorade, M.D., Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center, 5841 S. Maryland Ave, Chicago, IL 60611. E-mail: sbhorade{at}medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu

ABSTRACT

Immunosuppression remains the mainstay of therapy for successful outcomes after lung transplantation. The need for optimal immunosuppression became evident to maintain long-term graft survival and to navigate the delicate balance between infection and rejection. Over the past two decades, immunosuppression for solid organ transplantation has evolved to target multiple immune pathways with the hope of decreasing both acute and chronic allograft rejection. Although current maintenance therapy after lung transplantation typically includes a calcineurin inhibitor, antimetabolite and corticosteroid therapy, newer therapies including induction therapy with biological agents, mTOR inhibitors, and salvage therapies including photopheresis and total lymphoid irradiation have emerged as alternate therapeutic options. This review will discuss both the current immunosuppressive medications that are used as well as different therapeutic combinations that are currently employed. In addition, we will discuss the current literature regarding the efficacy of these agents in lung transplantation.

Key Words: immunosuppression • lung transplantation