Lung transplantation for interstitial lung disease

There have been over 120 diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLD) identified, and these diseases have similar clinical and pathological findings. These diseases are associated with autoimmune disorders, environmental or drug exposures, or are idiopathic in nature. Unfortunately, many of these diseases have limited effective therapies and may require lung transplantation for ongoing survival. Because of changes that have been made in lung allocation, lung transplantation in patients with DPLD is becoming more common. For successful lung transplantation, the DPLD patient requires optimized global medical management. Once transplanted, patients typically have a change in their lifestyle that requires multiple medications, dedication to lifelong exercise, and chronic medical management; however, they also garner a survival benefit and significant improvement in quality of life. Part of the transplant process is to inform patients fully of the risks, costs, and benefits associated with the procedure. It is imperative that patients are evaluated early so that a relationship between transplant centers and patients can be established.