Recurrence of diffuse panbronchiolitis after lung transplantation

Diffuse panbronchiolitis (DBP) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the upper and lower respiratory tract. DPB has been found almost exclusively in oriental populations. We describe the occurrence of a case of DPB in an African American patient who underwent bilateral sequential lung transplantation. Ten weeks after transplantation, DPB recurred in the lung allograft, with rapid and significant deterioration in graft function. Allograft function improved within a few weeks after beginning treatment with erythromycin. This early recurrence is suggestive of a systemic etiology of DPB. Although recurrence of other systemic diseases has been reported after lung transplantation, no previous patients have been reported with early functional deterioration based solely on disease recurrence.