Does the donor-recipient ABO blood group compatibility status predict subsequent lung transplantation outcomes?

Background: The study was conducted to compare lung transplantation outcome s between ABO-identical (AI) and ABO-compatible (AC) recipients. Methods: Charts of lung allograft recipients transplanted between February, 1990 and October, 1995 were reviewed. Standard triple-drug immunosuppressi on and general antimicrobial prophylaxis were provided. Surveillance spirom etry was administered every three months. Flexible bronchoscopy (FB) with t ransbronchial biopsies (TBBs) were undertaken for clinical indications. Tim e to event analysis on acute (AR) and chronic (CR) rejection and actuarial survival were determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Cumulative curves were c ompared with a log rank test. Comparisons of age, maximum forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in the single (SLT) and double (DLT) lung reci pients, duration of intensive care unit and hospital stay were carried out using the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. Gender, race, underlying diagnoses, cytom egalovirus (CMV) status and pulmonary reimplantation response (PRR) were co mpared by Chi-square or Fisher's exact test where appropriate. Results: Of the 100 lung recipients (age = 42.5 +/- 13.4 years; M:F = 50:50 ), 64 were AI and 36 AC. Median follow-up was 22 (range = 0-78) months. Out come did not differ significantly between the 2 groups in terms of intensiv e care unit and hospital stay, PRR incidence and grade, incidence and frequ encies of AR, median time and grade of first AR, maximum FEV, for SLT and D LT recipients, incidence of CR and survival at 12 months. Conclusions: As the donor supply remains limited, this could considerably s implify the logistics of future transplantation.