Updates, Management, and Future of Diagnosing and Managing Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction

Lung transplantation provides a curative option for patients living with end-stage lung disease, with a goal of improving survival and quality of life. Chronic lung allograft dysfunction, or CLAD, represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly after the first year of transplant. Background/Objectives: The goal of this review is to outline the diagnosis and management of CLAD within the lung transplant population, as well as discuss future areas of potential research interest. Methods: A PubMed literature review of relevant publications regarding CLAD epidemiology, diagnosis, and management was performed to assess current understandings. Results: CLAD is the leading cause of death in lung transplant patients following the first year of transplant, and is common, with approximately 50% of patients exhibiting some degree of CLAD within five years of surgery. Well-established guidelines on diagnosis were recently published to aid clinicians in diagnosing and characterizing CLAD. Several medical and surgical interventions exist, although no therapy consistently and reliably stabilizes or reverses CLAD. Conclusions: CLAD management remains a priority within the lung transplant field as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.