Pre-transplant soluble CD30 is associated with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical relevance of soluble CD30 (sCD30) concentrations in sera from lung transplantation (LTx) candidates.

METHODS: Soluble CD30 concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay in pre-transplantation sera of 38 LTx candidates and in serial samples taken after LTx from 10 patients.

RESULTS: LTx candidates did not have increased serum sCD30 concentrations when compared with healthy controls (mean +/- SE: 22.3 +/- 2.7 vs 26.2 +/- 3.4 U/ml). No relation could be found between age and serum sCD30 concentrations, neither in the pre-transplant patients nor in the healthy controls. In addition, no differences in sCD30 values could be detected between patients sorted by their original type of lung disease. Measurement of sCD30 in pre-transplant sera of LTx patients showed that the median concentration was 20 U/ml and that LTx patients with low sCD30 (< or = 20 U/ml) had a statistically significant (p = 0.039) longer period of freedom from bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) compared to those with a high sCD30 concentration (> 20 U/ml). Furthermore, sCD30 concentrations in sera taken at several timepoints after LTx remained stable, although a peak could be observed before the clinical manifestation of acute rejection (AR).

CONCLUSIONS: Soluble CD30 before lung transplantation is significantly associated with an increased risk of BOS after transplantation.