Solid Organ Transplantation in Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is a life-threatening complication of advanced sarcoidosis. Many mechanisms can cause an elevation of pulmonary pressure in sarcoidosis, leading to precapillary or postcapillary pulmonary hypertension. Sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension contributes to severe exertional dyspnea, reduced exercise capacity, and notably compromised the survival. Despite the critical functional and prognostic implications of pulmonary hypertension in sarcoidosis, there is a scarcity of specific guidelines on the management of these patients due to a lack of evidence. Hence, further research is required to identify subgroups of patients who may benefit from pulmonary arterial hypertension-targeted therapies and/or immunosuppressive therapies.

Advances in lung transplantation for interstitial lung diseases

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Lung transplantation (LTx) is increasingly used as ultimate treatment modality in end-stage interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). This review aims to give an overview of the latest evolutions in this field.

RECENT FINDINGS

In the last two years, important new findings regarding LTx outcomes in specific ILD entities have been reported. More data are available on optimization of pre-LTx management of ILD patients especially with regard to pretransplant antifibrotic treatment.

SUMMARY

LTx is the only treatment option with curative intent for ILDs and is increasingly used for this indication. Several studies have now reported adequate outcomes in different ILD entities, although outcome is shown to be affected by underlying telomeropathies. As new studies could not replicate inferior survival with single compared with double LTx, both options remain acceptable. ILD specialists can beneficially impact on post-LTx outcome by optimizing pre-LTx management: corticosteroids should be avoided, antifibrotics should be initiated whenever possible and BMI and nutritional status optimized, rehabilitation and depression-screening strategies should be implemented in all LTx candidates, as these interventions may all improve postlung transplant survival.

Lung transplantation for sarcoidosis: outcome and prognostic factors

Study question

In patients with sarcoidosis, past and ongoing immunosuppressive regimens, recurrent disease in the transplant and extrapulmonary involvement may affect outcomes of lung transplantation. We asked whether sarcoidosis lung phenotypes can be differentiated and, if so, how they relate to outcomes in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis treated by lung transplantation.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively reviewed data from 112 patients who met international diagnostic criteria for sarcoidosis and underwent lung or heart–lung transplantation between 2006 and 2019 at 16 European centres.

Results

Patient survival was the main outcome measure. At transplantation, median (interaquartile range (IQR)) age was 52 (46–59) years; 71 (64%) were male. Lung phenotypes were individualised as follows: 1) extended fibrosis only; 2) airflow obstruction; 3) severe pulmonary hypertension (sPH) and airflow obstruction; 4) sPH, airflow obstruction and fibrosis; 5) sPH and fibrosis; 6) airflow obstruction and fibrosis; 7) sPH; and 8) none of these criteria, in 17%, 16%, 17%, 14%, 11%, 9%, 5% and 11% of patients, respectively. Post-transplant survival rates after 1, 3, and 5 years were 86%, 76% and 69%, respectively. During follow-up (median (IQR) 46 (16–89) months), 31% of patients developed chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Age and extended lung fibrosis were associated with increased mortality. Pulmonary fibrosis predominating peripherally was associated with short-term complications.

Answer to the study question

Post-transplant survival in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis was similar to that in patients with other indications for lung transplantation. The main factors associated with worse survival were older age and extensive pre-operative lung fibrosis.

Indications for treatment of sarcoidosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To describe the current knowledge on indications for sarcoidosis treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

Despite the lack of evidence-based recommendations, the sarcoidosis community has adopted the concept of starting systemic anti-inflammatory treatment because of potential danger (risk of severe dysfunction on major organs or death) or unacceptable impaired quality of life (QoL). On the contrary, while QoL and functionality are patients' priorities, few studies have evaluated treatment effect on patient-reported outcomes. The awareness of long-term corticosteroids toxicities and consequences on QoL and the emergence of novel drugs have changed therapeutic management. Second-line therapy, mainly methotrexate and azathioprine, are indicated for corticosteroids sparing or corticosteroids-resistant sarcoidosis. TNF-α inhibitors are a useful third-line therapy in chronic refractory disease. In addition to organ-targeted treatment, efforts should also be taken for treating nonorgan-specific symptoms, such as physical training for fatigue, and various disease complications.

SUMMARY

Clinicians should offer a tailored treatment for each patient and ensure a holistic multidisciplinary approach, including pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions. Patient-centered communication is critical to drive shared decisions, in particular for the tricky situation of isolated impaired QoL as the unique therapeutic indication. Once treatment is decided, clinicians should define a clear therapeutic plan, including goals and instruments to assess response.

Mortality for sarcoidosis patients on the transplant wait list in the Lung Allocation Score era: Experience from a high volume center

RATIONALE

Sarcoidosis progresses to end stage fibrotic lung disease in 10% of patients and may necessitate lung transplantation. Organ allocation is currently determined by the Lung Allocation Score (LAS), but its performance in a sarcoidosis population has not been evaluated.

OBJECTIVES

To determine sarcoidosis-specific wait list mortality and identify predictive factors of death on the transplantation wait list.

METHODS

This was a single-center retrospective study of all sarcoidosis patients listed for lung transplant from March 2012 to February 2019. We compared patients who were transplanted to those who died awaiting organs. We collected baseline listing characteristics, physiologic testing, and outcomes data. Statistical analysis was performed by 2-tailed Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Chi-Square analysis (where appropriate). Receiver-operating characteristic curves were constructed for variables reaching statistical significance.

RESULTS

Twenty eight sarcoidosis patients were included in analysis. Mortality among wait listed patients was 18%, which exceeded the mortality of COPD and IPF. LAS scores did not differ at initial listing (41 vs. 46, p = 0.35) or at transplant/death (41 vs. 41, p = 0.91); wait list times also did not statistically differ (307 days vs. 177 days, p = 0.19). We identified bilirubin (AUC = 0.92), DLCO (AUC = 0.84), FEV1/FVC at transplant/death (AUC = 0.85), and composite physiologic index (AUC = 0.86) as predictors of death on the transplant list. Pulmonary hypertension was not associated with death.

CONCLUSION

Unexpected sudden death was common in our cohort and was associated with markers of advanced fibrotic disease, not pulmonary hypertension.

Lung transplantation for pulmonary sarcoidosis

Although relatively few patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis develop advanced disease that progresses to respiratory insufficiency despite receiving best practice pharmacologic interventions, lung transplantation may be the only therapeutic option for such patients to both prolong survival and provide improved quality of life. Lung transplant can be successfully performed for patients with end-stage pulmonary sarcoidosis, and post-transplant survival is similar to that for other transplant indications such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, appropriate timing of referral, comprehensive assessment of potential candidates for lung transplant, placement of patients on the lung transplant waiting list when within the transplant window as appropriate, choosing the best procedure (bilateral versus single lung transplant), and optimal peri-operative and post-transplant management are key to successful lung transplant outcomes for patients with sarcoidosis.

[Selection of lung transplant candidates in France in 2019]

INTRODUCTION

In 2015, the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) published a consensus document for the selection of lung transplant candidates. In the absence of recent French recommendations, this guideline is useful in order to send lung transplant candidates to the transplantation centers and to list them for lung transplantation at the right time.

BACKGROUND

The main indications for lung transplantation in adults are COPD and emphysema, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial diseases, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The specific indications for each underlying disease as well as the general contraindications have been reviewed in 2015 by the ISHLT. For cystic fibrosis, the main factors are forced expiratory volume in one second, 6-MWD, PAH and clinical deterioration characterized by increased frequency of exacerbations; for emphysema progressive disease, the BODE score, hypercapnia and FEV1; for PAH progressive disease or the need of specific intravenous therapy and NYHA classification. Finally, the diagnosis of fibrosing interstitial lung disease is usually a sufficient indication for lung transplantation assessment.

OUTLOOK AND CONCLUSION

These new recommendations, close to French practices, help clinicians to find the right time for referral of patients to transplantation centers. This is crucial for the prognosis of lung transplantation.