Impact of Allograft Injury Time of Onset on the Development of Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction After Lung Transplantation

The impact of allograft injury time of onset on the risk of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) remains unknown. We hypothesized that episodes of late‐onset (≥6 months) allograft injury would produce an augmented CXCR3/ligand immune response, leading to increased CLAD. In a retrospective single‐center study, 1894 transbronchial biopsy samples from 441 lung transplant recipients were reviewed for the presence of acute rejection (AR), lymphocytic bronchiolitis (LB), diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), and organizing pneumonia (OP). The association between the time of onset of each injury pattern and CLAD was assessed by using multivariable Cox models with time‐dependent covariates. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) CXCR3 ligand concentrations were compared between early‐ and late‐onset injury patterns using linear mixed‐effects models. Late‐onset DAD and OP were strongly associated with CLAD: adjusted hazard ratio 2.8 (95% confidence interval 1.5–5.3) and 2.0 (1.1–3.4), respectively. The early‐onset form of these injury patterns did not increase CLAD risk. Late‐onset LB and acute rejection (AR) predicted CLAD in univariable models but lost significance after multivariable adjustment for late DAD and OP. AR was the only early‐onset injury pattern associated with CLAD development. Elevated BAL CXCR3 ligand concentrations during late‐onset allograft injury parallel the increase in CLAD risk and support our hypothesis that late allograft injuries result in a more profound CXCR3/ligand immune response.