BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify precise and reliable prognostic parameters in patients affected by serious chronic interstitial lung disease, who were undergoing screening for lung or heart-lung transplantation. METHODS: Hemodynamic and respiratory function parameters of 67 patients (43 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, 18 with histiocytosis X, and 6 with lymphangioleiomyomatosis) undergoing clinical screening for lung transplantation. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that hemodynamic and respiratory function parameters in patients affected by histiocytosis X and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were not related to survival time. Moreover, the degree of pulmonary hypertension showed no correlation between respiratory function parameters in all the groups of diseases examined. Patients affected with histiocytosis X, even with higher degrees of pulmonary hypertension, had a better survival rate (p < 0.0005) compared with patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Hemodynamic and respiratory parameters obtained during the clinical screening for lung transplantation do not predict survival and cannot be used as prognostic indicators.
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify precise and reliable prognostic parameters in patients affected by serious chronic interstitial lung disease, who were undergoing screening for lung or heart-lung transplantation. METHODS: Hemodynamic and respiratory function parameters of 67 patients (43 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, 18 with histiocytosis X, and 6 with lymphangioleiomyomatosis) undergoing clinical screening for lung transplantation. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that hemodynamic and respiratory function parameters in patients affected by histiocytosis X and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were not related to survival time. Moreover, the degree of pulmonary hypertension showed no correlation between respiratory function parameters in all the groups of diseases examined. Patients affected with histiocytosis X, even with higher degrees of pulmonary hypertension, had a better survival rate (p < 0.0005) compared with patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Hemodynamic and respiratory parameters obtained during the clinical screening for lung transplantation do not predict survival and cannot be used as prognostic indicators.