Outcomes of lung transplantation in cystic fibrosis

Lung transplantation (LTX) has transformed care for people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) suffering from advanced cystic fibrosis lung disease (ACFLD), and it has evolved into an accepted therapy for patients with ACFLD across all ages. We review cystic fibrosis as a major indication for LTX, particularly highlighting outcomes including survival, a changing landscape over time, and factors affecting sequelae following LTX in cystic fibrosis.

Although some populations such as those undergoing lung retransplantation exhibit inferior posttransplant outcomes, LTX for pwCF provides an excellent long-term survival that has significantly improved over time, likely due to specialized cystic fibrosis center care and recognition of common comorbidities in pwCF post-LTX. There are gaps in post-LTX outcomes for pwCF, including that identified between Canada and the United States, and that seen in adolescents - both of which are likely multifactorial. In particular, the revolution in cystic fibrosis medical therapy with CFTR modulator therapy has resulted in a dramatic decline in programs performing LTX for cystic fibrosis. How durable this effect will remains to be seen.

Overall, LTX remains a well accepted ultimate therapy option in patients with ACFLD if compatible with the individual's goals of care, offering an improved quality of life and maximization of overall survival.