Does a Leukocyte Filter Show Benefit in Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion?

What is it about?

Lung transplantation is limited by a shortage of donor lungs. Normothermic ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has emerged as a technology for assessment and reconditioning of donor lungs to increase organ accept-ability. However, prolonged EVLP is hindered by inflammation resulting in lung edema. A leukocyte filter is used as a standard of care in both clinical and pre-clinical settings of EVLP with no evidence to date suggesting that it shows benefit on this platform. Thus, we sought to determine the efficacy of a leukocyte filter in removing leukocytes from the ex-vivo circulation and donor lung in acellular and cellular based perfusion to decrease inflammation during prolonged EVLP.

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Why is it important?

Lung transplantation is limited by a shortage of donor lungs. Normothermic ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has emerged as a technology for assessment and reconditioning of donor lungs to increase organ accept-ability. However, prolonged EVLP is hindered by inflammation resulting in lung edema. A leukocyte filter is used as a standard of care in both clinical and pre-clinical settings of EVLP with no evidence to date suggesting that it shows benefit on this platform. Thus, we sought to determine the efficacy of a leukocyte filter in removing leukocytes from the ex-vivo circulation and donor lung in acellular and cellular based perfusion to decrease inflammation during prolonged EVLP.