EFFECT OF RENAL-TRANSPLANTATION ON PULMONARY-FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH END-STAGE RENAL-FAILURE

Ten patients with end-stage renal failure on maintenance dialysis unde rwent serial lung function tests before and at monthly intervals after renal transplantation. Mean values of forced expiratory volume within 1 s, forced vital capacity, and total lung capacity were within the n ormal range before and up to 6, months after transplantation. The mean value of residual volume (RV) was above the normal range during all p eriods measured (157.8 +/- 21.5% predicted before transplantation and 121.2 +/- 17.0% predicted at 6 months after transplantation). No stati stically significant changes in lung volumes were detected over a cour se of 6 months, but there was a trend for a reduction in RV after tran splantation. The single-breath diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) was in the high-normal range before transplantation (115.7 +/- 9.5% predicted). It remained high at 1 month after transplantation (12 4.5 +/- 12.2% predicted), but it gradually came down to the normal ran ge from the 2nd month onwards. At 6 months after transplantation the m ean DLCO was 83.8 +/- 7.3% of predicted which was significantly (p < 0 .0001) lower than the value before transplantation. We conclude that r aised DLCO and RV values occurred in patients with end-stage renal fai lure on maintenance dialysis which were most likely the result of pulm onary vascular congestion, and these abnormalities tend to improve aft er renal transplantation.