Objective and methods: The Eurotransplant Foundation introduced the lung allocation score (LAS) in Germany on December 10, 2011. We analyzed characteristics of the Munich Lung Transplant Group (MLTG) waiting list during the first 9 months after the introduction of the LAS.
Results: A mean number of 39 ± 1 patients were constantly listed for lung transplantation and 60 transplants were performed by the MLTG during the observation period. While the majority (42 ± 0%) of patients waiting for transplant comprised chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)/emphysema patients, only 26% of transplanted patients suffered from COPD/emphysema. Instead, the majority (42%) of transplanted patients suffered from interstitial lung disease. Waiting times did not markedly change in the LAS era. Notably, patients with interstitial lung disease had shorter waiting times when compared with patients suffering from COPD/emphysema and cystic fibrosis, both on the waiting list and at the time of transplant.
Conclusion: The MLTG lung transplant waiting list has not markedly changed during the first 9 months after the introduction of the LAS. Our data indicate that the LAS accommodates disease-specific patient statuses well. Although patients with interstitial lung disease are preferably transplanted, the LAS system provides a very reasonable basis to also list and transplant COPD/emphysema patients.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.