Lung transplantation is increasingly common among patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Issue 3 (4th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blackley, David J.; Halldin, Cara N.; Cummings, Kristin J.; Laney, A. Scott
• Is Part Of: American journal of industrial medicine. Volume 59:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 175
• Page End: 177
• Publication Date: 2016-01-04
• Subjects: coal workers' pneumoconiosis -- lung transplantation -- occupational lung disease -- coal mining; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Médecine du travail -- Périodiques; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22551
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0271-3586

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The prevalence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) in U.S. coal miners has increased, and severe presentations are increasingly common. Methods: We describe trends in lung transplantation during 1996–2014 for recipients with a primary diagnosis of CWP or pneumoconiosis unspecified, and we summarize recipient characteristics and estimate survival. Results: A total of 47 transplants were included; nearly three‐quarters were performed during 2008–2014. All recipients were male, 96% were white, and the mean age was 56 years. Mean FEV1 % was 35%; mean FVC% was 53%. Mean time on a waitlist was 155 days, and 60% of transplants were bilateral. Median survival was 3.7 years. Conclusions: These transplants reflect the use of a scarce resource for an entirely preventable disease, and highlight the need for enhanced efforts to reduce coal mine dust exposures. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:175–177, 2016. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.