Prevalence and management of gastrointestinal complications in lung transplant patients: MITOS study group

No studies have yet been performed to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) complications in solid organ transplant recipients in Spain.

An observational, cross-sectional study to evaluate the prevalence and management of GI complications in transplanted patients was conducted via a written questionnaire given to doctors at their practice.

A total of 58 lung transplant recipients were included. Their mean age was 52.6 +/- 10.8 years; 65% of the patients were men; and the mean time since the transplant was 2.1 +/- 2.3 years. GI complications were seen in 48.6% of the lung transplant patients. Regarding the management, the most frequently used measure was the prescription of gastric protectors (70.5%). In seven patients, the immunosuppressive treatment was also modified (reduced, discontinued temporarily, or discontinued permanently); however, the figure is so low that no conclusions can be drawn from this result.

The prevalence of GI complications in lung transplant was over 50%, and these complications affected patients' daily activities in most cases. In lung transplant recipients, there was a higher prevalence of nausea and abdominal pain and a lower of diarrhea and dyspepsia than what was observed in other type of transplant recipients.