Lung transplantation in interstitial lung disease.

A discussion of transplantation as an optional therapeutic modality for patients with end-stage interstitial lung disease follows. Single lung transplantation for pulmonary fibrosis has been shown to be a successful modality with good survival rates. A limited cadaveric donor pool has affected the number of patients who can undergo transplantation. Selection criteria have been established to identify the most appropriate candidates. Transplantation of lung lobes obtained from living-related donors has recently been performed successfully in a patient suffering from pulmonary fibrosis. Living-related donors can potentially increase the donor pool. Successful transplantation of sarcoidosis patients is clearly possible. Recurrence of sarcoidosis in the lung allograft has been recognized but the clinical significance is not yet clear.