Early risk factors for chronic rejection after lung transplantation

Chronic rejection of the lungs, characterized by bronchiolitis obliterans (BO), is the major threat for long-term function and survival of clinical lung grafts. BO is an ongoing fibroproliferative process of the airways with inflammmation and fibrosis of the lamina propria and obliteration of the lumen as a consequence and affects about 50% of recipients within 5 years after lung transplantation. Many factors have been suggested to be involved in the development of chronic rejection, but a complete insight in the etiology and pathophysiology of chronic rejection is still lacking. ... Zie: Summary