Effect of epoprostenol-induced thrombocytopaenia on lung transplantation for pulmonary arterial hypertension

OBJECTIVES Preoperative intravenous epoprostenol therapy can cause thrombocytopaenia, which may increase the risk of perioperative bleeding during lung transplantation. This study aimed to determine whether lung transplantation can be safely performed in patients with epoprostenol-induced thrombocytopaenia.METHODS From June 2008 to July 2022, we performed 37 lung transplants in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), including idiopathic PAH (n = 26), congenital heart disease-associated PAH (n = 7), pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (n = 3) and peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis (n = 1) at our institution. Of these, 26 patients received intravenous epoprostenol therapy (EPO group), whereas 11 patients were treated with no epoprostenol (no-EPO group). We retrospectively analysed the preoperative and postoperative platelet counts and post-transplant outcomes in each group.RESULTS Preoperative platelet counts were relatively lower in the EPO group than in the no-EPO group (median EPO: 127 000 vs no-EPO: 176 000/mu l). However, blood loss during surgery was similar between the 2 groups (EPO: 2473 ml vs no-EPO: 2615 ml). The platelet counts significantly increased over 1 month after surgery, and both groups showed similar platelet counts (EPO: 298 000 vs no-EPO: 284 000/mu l). In-hospital mortality (EPO: 3.9% vs no-EPO: 18.2%) and the 3-year survival rate (EPO: 91.4% vs no-EPO: 80.8%) were similar between the 2 groups.CONCLUSIONS Patients with PAH treated with intravenous epoprostenol showed relatively lower platelet counts, which improved after lung transplantation with good post-transplant outcomes. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and progressive lung disease characterized by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure that leads to right ventricular failure and death [1].