Lung transplant outcomes for recipients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, by use of alpha-1 antitrypsin augmentation therapy

Background: For patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, AAT augmentation therapy can be an important part of care. However, for those who require a lung transplant (LT), there is currently only limited information to guide the use of AAT augmentation therapy post-LT. Methods: We identifi...

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Main Authors: Atharv V. Oak, MEng, Jessica M. Ruck, MD, PhD, Alfred J. Casillan, MD, PhD, Armaan F. Akbar, BS, Ramon A. Riojas, MD, PhD, Pali D. Shah, MD, Jinny S. Ha, MD, MHS, Sara Strout, PharmD, Allan B. Massie, PhD, Dorry L. Segev, MD, PhD, Christian A. Merlo, MD, MPH, Errol L. Bush, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:JHLT Open
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950133424001514
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Summary:Background: For patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, AAT augmentation therapy can be an important part of care. However, for those who require a lung transplant (LT), there is currently only limited information to guide the use of AAT augmentation therapy post-LT. Methods: We identified all LT recipients from 2011-2021 in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients with an AAT deficiency diagnosis. We categorized recipients by use of AAT augmentation therapy post-LT and compared their baseline characteristics using Fisher’s exact test and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. We used Kaplan-Meier analyses and estimated the average treatment effect (ATE) of post-LT AAT augmentation therapy on mortality and all-cause graft failure (ACGF). The ATE measures the observed effect we would see if everyone in the population received the intervention as opposed to just a subset. Results: Among the 447 recipients with AAT deficiency, 109 used AAT augmentation therapy pre-LT, of which 32 (29.4%) continued post-LT. Recipients who used augmentation therapy post-LT were younger (56.5 [53-59.75] vs 57 [53.75-63], p = 0.04) and had shorter ischemia time (mean 311 vs 363 minutes, p = 0.03) than those who did not. The age-adjusted ATE estimate of post-LT augmentation therapy use on time to death and ACGF was +1.69 and +1.48 years, respectively. Post-LT augmentation therapy use was associated with a mortality reduction in the top quartile bilirubin subgroup (p = 0.02, log-rank test). Conclusions: In our study, the use of augmentation therapy post-LT was associated with improved survival. Confirmatory prospective studies should be considered to inform post-LT AAT therapy guidelines.
ISSN:2950-1334