SARCOIDOSIS AND TRANSPLANTATION

Background and Aim of Work: Organ transplantation is an accepted treat ment Cor patients with rp an failure. There is limited information abo ut transplantation in patients with sarcoidosis. While there has been no systematic study of transplantation in sarcoidosis. there have been several reports of patients with sarcoidosis undergoing organ transpl antation. The purpose elf this review is to analyze che available lite rature. Methods: We reviewed the literature regarding transplantation of kidney liver, heart, heart-lung and lung in patients with sarcoidos is with attention to survival, complications and the incidence of recu rrence of sarcoidosis in the transplanted organ and at distant sites. Results: Survival and complication rates are similar to those of patie nts undergoing transplantation for other indications Recurrence of pul monary sarcoidosis has been estimated to be 47% following lung transpl antation. The published cases represent a fraction of the patients rep orted to the International Registry maintained by the United Network o f Groan Sharing (UNOS). Conclusions: Transplantation can be carrier ou t safely in patients with sarcoidosis. Recurrence is frequent, often a symptomatic, and does not compromise graft function or patient surviva l. Radiographic abnormalities or symptoms associated with recurrence a re responsive to increased adrenocorticosteroid therapy. Exacerbation of sarcoidosis In transplant recipients occurs in the setting of inten se immunosuppression.