Achalasia as a Potential Predisposing Factor for Lung Allograft Rejection

Najafizadeh, Katayoun; Ghorbani, Fariba; Shiehmorteza, Masoud; Mohammadtaheri, Zohreh; Jamali, Masoud; Mohammadi, Forozan; Amiri, Majid Valiollah Pour; Abbasi, Azizollah

Achalasia as a Potential Predisposing Factor for Lung Allograft Rejection

Authors

Katayoun Najafizadeh ¹^{, 2}

Fariba Ghorbani ¹

Masoud Shiehmorteza ¹

Zohreh Mohammadtaheri ³^{, 4}

Masoud Jamali ¹

Forozan Mohammadi ²^{, 3}

Majid Valiollah Pour Amiri ⁵

Azizollah Abbasi ²^{, 6}

¹ Department of Pulmonary Medicine,

² Lung Transplantation Research Center,

³ Department of Clinical Anatomical Pathology,

⁴ Tracheal Disease Research Center,

⁵ Department of Infectious Disease,

⁶ Department of Thoracic Surgery, NRITLD, Shahid Beheshti University M.C., TEHRAN-IRAN.

Abstract

Microaspiration secondary to gastroesophageal reflux has been postulated to be a predisposing factor for development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation. Esophageal manometry and ambulatory pH monitoring have been suggested as a screening test in patients with end-stage lung disease. We report a single lung transplant patient who developed allograft rejection presumed to be due to underlying achalasia as the patient’s clinical status and lung function improved markedly following the treatment of achalasia. The potential cause-effect association between esophageal disorder and allograft rejection and the clinical importance of the screening in this group to improve the survival rate after lung transplantation is proposed. (Tanaffos 2008; 7(3): 69-72)

Keywords

Lung transplantation

Achalasia

Persistant allograft rejection

Pulmonary fibrosis