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V A Holland

Publications and source records attributed to V A Holland.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Semiquantitative measurement of cytomegalovirus DNA in lung and heart-lung transplant patients by in vitro DNA amplification.

We report the cases of two lung transplant recipients (one heart-lung and one single lung) who eventually developed cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonitis after documentation of increasing CMV DNA titers in sequential bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. To our knowledge, this is the first report that semiquantitation of PCR-amplified DNA can detect an increase in CMV DNA titer in BAL specimens prior to the onset of clinical symptoms or detection of infection by traditional techniques in lung transplant patients. The results obtained in these two cases suggest that DNA titer measurement on sequential BAL samples may differentiate latency from active viral replication and, thus, provide an opportunity for clinical intervention before the development of overt clinical symptoms.

Adult↗

Lymphocyte subset populations in bronchiolitis obliterans after heart-lung transplantation.

The long-term success of heart-lung transplantation is limited by the development of bronchiolitis obliterans, possibly as a form of chronic lung allograft rejection. In the present study, we have characterized by immunohistochemical staining the lymphocytes infiltrating the lesions of bronchiolitis obliterans in one patient following heart-lung transplantation. The finding that the preponderant cells expressed the CD8 (putative cytotoxic/suppressor) marker lends support to the notion that chronic rejection is at least one mechanism for the development of bronchiolotis obliterans following heart-lung transplantation.

Adult↗

Pulmonary function after heart-lung transplantation using larger donor organs.

Restrictive pulmonary function after heart-lung transplantation (HLT) has been attributed to the use of smaller donor lungs and/or an inability to generate normal negative pleural pressures. Pleural pressure generation depends on both the size of the recipient thoracic cage and its neuromuscular integrity. To determine whether lung volumes after heart-lung transplantation are more dependent on donor lung size or on recipient chest wall characteristics, seven HLT recipients were evaluated before and after transplantation. Postoperative values initially (average, 2 months), 6, and 12 months after transplantation were compared with predicted lung volumes for the recipient and donor organs. TLC dropped from a mean of 5.2 +/- 0.5 L preoperatively to 3.7 +/- 0.3 L (p less than 0.05) 2 months after HLT, but it improved with time and ultimately was not different from preoperative values. The predicted TLC of the HLT donor organs were significantly larger than those of the recipient's predicted TLC, with a mean of 6.9 +/- 0.4 versus 5.3 +/- 0.3 L (p less than 0.05). DLCO, arterial PO2, and PCO2 did not change after surgery. Within limits, larger donor lungs appear to adapt to the constraints of the recipient chest and may be used with clinical success, without apparent adverse effects.

Adolescent↗

Dynamic changes in soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels after lung or heart-lung transplantation.

Activation of T-lymphocytes is accompanied by the release of interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) in a soluble form that can be measured as an index of the activation process. We performed a prospective, blinded study of the dynamic changes in soluble IL-2R levels in serum in 12 patients undergoing lung or heart-lung transplantation. The levels of soluble IL-2R were markedly elevated during episodes of rejection (geometric mean value X divided by SEM = 3,770 X divided by 1.06 versus 411 X divided by 1.08 U/ml for normal controls, p less than 0.0001). Levels of soluble IL-2R were 2,105 X divided by 1.16 U/ml with rejection episodes in single lung recipients versus 5,560 X divided by 1.30 in recipients of two lungs (p = 0.005). Soluble IL-2R levels were 1,468 X divided by 1.05 during episodes of nonbacterial infections, 1,879 X divided by 1.34 with bacterial infections, and 5,056 X divided by 1.08 with sepsis (p less than 0.001 for each category compared to normals). Levels of soluble IL-2R exceeded 6,750 U/ml only with rejection episodes and were greater than 4,100 U/ml either with rejection, clinical sepsis, or overwhelming bacterial infection. We conclude that marked elevations of soluble IL-2R are associated with rejection, intermediate elevations with either rejection or infection, and that low levels of soluble IL-2R exclude rejection.

Adult↗

Factors contributing to mortality in lung transplant recipients: an autopsy study.

Despite improved surgical techniques and advances in immunosuppressive therapy, posttransplant mortality rates remain significantly high in lung transplant patients. Since 1985, 3 of 6 single lung recipients, 3 of 3 double lung recipients, and 4 of 7 heart-lung recipients have died and undergone autopsy. We reviewed the autopsy findings in these patients to determine the type and frequency of pathologic processes associated with mortality. One or more infectious processes was found in every patient at autopsy. Gram-negative bacterial pneumonia and sepsis, found in 7 and 8 of 10 autopsy cases, respectively, were by far the most frequent contributing factors to mortality. Epstein-Barr virus infection was demonstrated in one patient using polymerase chain reaction amplification. Acute transplant rejection was found in only 2 patients and therefore is a much less common factor in the death of lung transplant recipients. Diffuse alveolar damage occurred in 6 patients and bronchiolitis obliterans occurred in 3 patients. These latter two processes may have different etiologies in different patients.

Adolescent↗

Differential perfusion: potential complication of femoral-femoral bypass during single lung transplantation.

Single lung transplantation may be performed without pump oxygenation in the majority of patients. From April 1987 to August 1989, 3 of 12 patients undergoing single lung transplantation required pump oxygenation. One patient required pump oxygenation because of a marked drop in oxygen saturation during test clamping of the pulmonary artery; one patient was brought to the operating room while receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; and one patient had such markedly elevated pulmonary artery pressures that pump oxygenation was used to lower pressure in the pulmonary circuit, allowing safe pulmonary artery clamping. These three patients had cannulas placed in the femoral vein and femoral artery. The latter two patients manifested marked upper body oxygen desaturation while maintaining excellent lower body oxygen saturation during their transplant procedures. Ventricular fibrillation, induced by alternating current, was used as a means to correct this differential perfusion. Should pump oxygenation be necessary during single lung transplantation, the region of the body adjacent to the arterial cannula may be perfused with oxygenated blood, and the remainder of the patient may be perfused with deoxygenated blood. Induced ventricular fibrillation is one method to correct this potentially fatal problem.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗