Pulmonary tuberculosis after lung transplantation

Chest. 1997 May;111(5):1459-62. doi: 10.1378/chest.111.5.1459.

Abstract

During a 5-year study period, we diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis in two (2%) of 94 lung and heart-lung transplant recipients. Each infection occurred 3 months after bilateral lung transplantation in the presence of evidence implicating donor-to-recipient transmission of the pathogen. The radiographic patterns of pulmonary tuberculosis were subtle: narrowing of the middle lobe bronchus of the right lung caused by an endobronchial granulomatous mass (n = 1) and a focal cluster of small nodules in the upper lobe of the left lung and small bilateral pleural effusions (n = 1). Each patient achieved complete clinical and radiographic response after antituberculous therapy. We conclude that Mycobacterium tuberculosis may be transmitted directly by a donor lung and may involve bronchial mucosa, pulmonary parenchyma, and pleura.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bronchi / microbiology
  • Bronchial Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Bronchography
  • Disease Transmission, Infectious
  • Heart Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Lung Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Pleura / microbiology
  • Pleural Effusion / microbiology
  • Tissue Donors
  • Tuberculoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnostic imaging
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / transmission*

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents