RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Decreased hypercapnic ventilatory response in long-term lung transplant recipients
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 4618
VO 42
IS Suppl 57
A1 Manuela Weidmann
A1 Björn Kleibrink
A1 Thomas Rabis
A1 Gerhard Weinreich
A1 Markus Kamler
A1 Helmut Teschler
A1 Urte Sommerwerck
YR 2013
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/4618.abstract
AB Background: Bilateral lung transplantation is associated with complete denervation of the lung which might have an impact on hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR). Two previous small-scale studies on CO2 rebreathing showed no difference of HCVR between a mixed population of single and bilateral lung transplant recipients and healthy controls.Objectives: HCVR was measured in bilateral lung transplant recipients and compared to healthy controls.Methods: In an ongoing prospective study HCVR was tested according to Read’s method as described in 1968. Our study population consisted of 46 patients (21 women and 25 men body mass index (BMI) 25 ± 4 kg/m2, age 54 ± 11 years, time after transplantation 4.5 ± 2.5 years (range 10 month to 10 years)). In controls (14 women and 16 men) BMI was 25 ± 4 kg/m2 and age 38 ± 11 years.Results: Lung transplant recipients: FEV1 predicted 76 ± 22, IVC predicted 91 ± 20, BGA (pO2 84 ± 13 mmHg, pCO2 36 ± 4 mmHg, pH 7,42 ± 0,03) at rest. Controls: FEV1 predicted 94 ± 13, IVC predicted 105 ± 14, BGA (pO2 90 ± 13 mmHg, pCO2 35 ± 3 mmHg, pH 7,43 ± 0,02). HCVR in lung transplant recipients was 1.44 ± 1.07 l/min/mmHg and 2.09 ± 1.08 l/min/mmHg in controls (p=0.001).Conclusion: This study demonstrates a significant reduction in HCVR after bilateral lung transplantation between long-term lung transplant recipients and controls. The conflicting results to previous studies might be attributed to the incomplete denervation associated with single lung transplantation. Furthermore, our findings might explain the well-known reduced peak exercise capacity and oxygen consumption after bilateral lung transplantation.