Lung Transplantation in Systemic Sclerosis: a Practice Survey of United States Lung Transplant Centers

Background. Lung transplantation in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) can be complicated by extrapulmonary manifestations of the disease, leading to concerns regarding posttransplant complications and outcomes. Methods. We conducted a web-based survey of adult lung transplant programs in the United States regarding their practices in patients with SSc. Results. Sixty percent (37/62) of the eligible centers responded to the survey, majority of the respondents were medical directors (81%). Most centers would consider transplanting patients with mild or moderate esophageal disease (92% or 75%, respectively) or gastroparesis (59%). A minority would consider patients with severe esophageal dysmotility (37%), digital ulcers (21%), or low body mass index (19%). Most centers conducted extensive pretransplant gastrointestinal evaluation and use a conservative feeding approach with prolonged nothing by mouth (83%) and postpyloric feeding (89%). Antireflux surgery is commonly considered (40%) with partial fundoplication being the procedure of choice (67%). Most respondents expected similar outcomes of acute or chronic rejection (81% and 51%, respectively), respiratory infections (76%), and 1-year survival (70%). Conclusions. Most US lung transplant centers do not universally exclude SSc from lung transplant listing, but most support extensive pretransplant gastrointestinal testing and a conservative approach to feeding in the early posttransplant period.