New ISHLT Document on Baseline Lung Allograft Dysfunction (BLAD)
A new ISHLT Document, Baseline Lung Allograft Dysfunction: Definition, Timing, and Implications for Outcomes—An ISHLT Consensus Document , has been published in JHLT and is available to read online!
Led by Kieran Halloran and Jens Gottlieb, this document was developed to clearly define the utility of the baseline lung allograft dysfunction (BLAD) construct, to standardize the definition for future clinical and research use, and to summarize what is known about its potential risk factors, causes, and association with outcomes.
Lung allograft dysfunction after transplant is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in lung transplant recipients and poses a significant barrier to improving long-term survival and quality of life. While the constructs for acute lung allograft dysfunction (ALAD) and chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) capture declines in lung function, they do not address patients with subnormal but stable baseline function. This physiologic state – termed BLAD – has been linked to impaired survival, though definitions in the literature have varied. The BLAD concept has also generated important discussions about whether it creates unrealistic expectations of normal post-transplant lung function. A standardized definition is therefore essential for future research and clinical application.
Visit the Standards & Guidelines page for details, top takeaways, and links to read or download the document.