Pre-transplant Anemia as a Marker of Short-term Outcomes in Lung Transplant Recipients

Background. Anemia is a risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality in multiple medical conditions, yet the impact of pretransplant anemia in patients with advanced lung disease on post-transplant outcomes remains under-explored. We sought to determine whether pretransplant anemia serves as a marker of altered inflammation in the host and associates with short-term outcomes following lung transplantation. Study Design and Methods. We performed a single-center, retrospective analysis of 238 lung transplant recipients. We assessed for risk factors of pretransplant anemia and identified associations with short-term post-transplant outcomes. Results. Pretransplant anemia was associated with increased intraoperative transfusion of packed red blood cells and a trend towards increased index hospital length of stay and 1-year mortality. Conversely, pretransplant anemia was associated with a decreased incidence of acute cellular rejection. Conclusion. These preliminary data suggest that anemia may be a biomarker of altered inflammation in the host recipient and influences post-transplant outcomes.