[Bronchiolitis obliterans in a patient with chronic graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplantation]

A 25-year-old with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (FAB:L2) received an allogeneic bone marrow transplant from an HLA-identical sibling during the first remission. Despite administration of adequate immunosuppressant drugs, active chronic graft-versus-host disease developed and continued. The patient complained of progressive dry coughing and breathlessness on exertion 18 months after the transplant and severe hyperlucency and multiple bullae were observed on a chest X-ray film. Three years after the transplant, recurrent bilateral pneumothorax developed and lung cysts were resected twice. Histological examination revealed bronchiolitis obliterans. We speculate that post-transplant bronchiolitis obliterans caused multiple bullae to form by a check-valve mechanism, which then led to recurrent bilateral pneumothorax.