New-onset asthma in a bilateral lung transplant patient

• Published in: BMJ case reports Vol. 12; no. 11; p. e231654
• Main Authors: Fyenbo, Daniel Benjamin, Degn, Kristine Bruun, Schmid, Johannes Martin, Bendstrup, Elisabeth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.11.2019; BMJ Publishing Group
• Series: Case report
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use; Adrenergic beta-Agonists - therapeutic use; Adult; Airway management; Anti-Asthmatic Agents - therapeutic use; Asthma; Asthma - drug therapy; Asthma - etiology; Asthma - physiopathology; Blood tests; Bronchodilator Agents - therapeutic use; Bronchodilators; Case reports; Drug Therapy, Combination; Dyspnea; Findings That Shed New Light on the Possible Pathogenesis of a Disease or an Adverse Effect; Humans; Lung Transplantation - adverse effects; Lung transplants; Lungs; Male; Patients; Postoperative Complications - diagnostic imaging; Postoperative Complications - drug therapy; Postoperative Complications - physiopathology; Spirometry; Transplants & implants; Treatment Outcome; respiratory medicine; asthma
• ISSN: 1757-790X; 1757-790X
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2019-231654

We present a case of new-onset asthma in a 35-year-old man who had undergone bilateral lung transplantation 11 years before due to idiopathic bronchiectasis and pulmonary hypertension. He presented with recurrent episodes of breathlessness, wheezing and coughing. Spirometry demonstrated severe airway obstruction. After treatment with systemic and inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilators as well as short-acting beta-agonists as needed, his symptoms resolved and his spirometry normalised. A bronchial mannitol challenge test showed significant airway hyperresponsiveness and is thus consistent for a diagnosis of asthma. To our best knowledge, this is the first case of late new-onset asthma in a lung transplant recipient.