Pulmonary capillaritis as a manifestation of acute humoral allograft rejection following infant lung transplantation

Am J Transplant. 2009 Feb;9(2):409-12. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2008.02467.x. Epub 2008 Nov 27.

Abstract

Pulmonary capillaritis has been described in adult lung transplant recipients, but has not been previously reported in pediatric recipients. We report a case of posttransplant pulmonary capillaritis in an 8-month-old infant, and demonstrate evidence of C4d deposition and B-lymphocytes in the allograft, donor anti-HLA antibodies in the serum and a clinical and immunohistochemical response to anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) therapy. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that pulmonary capillaritis may represent a form of acute humoral rejection in the lung allograft that is less common than, and clinically and histologically distinct from, typical acute cellular rejection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antigens, CD20 / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Capillaries / pathology*
  • Graft Rejection / drug therapy
  • Graft Rejection / etiology*
  • Graft Rejection / pathology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lung / blood supply
  • Lung Diseases / therapy
  • Lung Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Rituximab
  • Vasculitis / drug therapy
  • Vasculitis / etiology*
  • Vasculitis / pathology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antigens, CD20
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Rituximab