Lung transplantation for treating pulmonary hypertension in Japan

Of 174 patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) who were waiting for lung transplantation (LTx) in Japan, one-third underwent LTx, one-third died while on the waiting list and one-third are still waiting. The 5-year survival rate after LTx in 52 patients with PH was 67%, which is significantly better than the international registry data (approximately 50%). However, the short-term mortality rate after LTx was higher in PH (30-day, 12%; 90-day, 19%) than in the other pulmonary diseases (in Japan), as in the international registry data). The most frequent cause of death after LTx to treat PH was primary graft dysfunction, although favorable functional status and active daily life were observed in long-term survivors after LTx.