Transplantation

Question

Hello,

if a CF patient undergoes lung transplantation, will the new lung also suffer from more and more mucus? Therefore, will the CF damange the new lung the same way as the former lung?
Can one transplant the pancreas, so that the new organ secretes enzymes in the gut? Thus, could one cure with that a CF pancreatic insufficiency?

What does immunosuppression after a transplantation mean concretely for the transplant recipient, concerning infections, quality of life?

Many thanks!

Answer

Hello,

in general one has to make clear, that the tranplanted lung does not have indeed the genetic dysfunction like in case of CF. The mucoid glands are functioning like in a healthy person and the mucus is of normal composition. However such a lung comes now into an environment, where everywhere many germs wait as a threat. But even with this, a good transplanted lung comes along with it well. Only if problems occur on the side of the transplant, like rejection or virus infections triggered via the immunosuppression, then it could be problematic.

To your other questions: Yes, one can also transplant a pancreas, however this is done only at very few centers, as one can easily substitute insulin as well as the enzymes - then the risk appears disproportionately.
The last question about the meaning of the immunosuppression can also be answered in two directions: it means all for the recipient: keeping of the transplanted organ, as without it is not possible, but however also an increased risk of infection. This it the price that one has to pay for the transplantation of a "foreign" organ.

Best regards,
Prof. Dr. TOF Wagner

12.06.2015