Successful lung transplantation for bronchiolitis obliterans after allogeneic marrow transplantation

Background Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is an established therapy for a variety of hematological diseases with curative potential. However, despi te improvements in supportive care, pulmonary complications remain a signif icant cause of morbidity and mortality. Methods. We report on a patient who received a double lung transplantation (LTX) for therapy-refractory bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) associated with extensive chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic BMT. Results. At present, 38 months after BMT and 23 months after LTX, the patie nt is in complete hematological and cytogenetic remission and without signs of respiratory distress. Conclusions. This case illustrates that lung transplantation could be a the rapeutic option in selected patients with BO after allogeneic BMT that is a ssociated with extensive chronic GVHD and who are refractory to conventiona l immunosuppressive therapy.