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The patient who had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis had a bilateral lung transplantation. Now he is experiencing airflow obstruction that is progressing over time. It started with a gradual onset of exertional dyspnea, nonproductive cough, and wheezing. What are these manifestations signs of in the lung transplant patient?

1. Pulmonary infarction
2. Pulmonary hypertension
3. Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
4. Bronchiolitis obliterans (BOS)

User Uchuugaka
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1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The patient's symptoms suggest Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (BOS), a form of chronic lung allograft dysfunction following lung transplantation. It is characterized by the inflammation and obstruction of small airways, as opposed to conditions like COPD that affect the alveoli.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient's symptoms of progressive airflow obstruction, exertional dyspnea, nonproductive cough, and wheezing after a bilateral lung transplantation are indicative of Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (BOS). BOS is a common and serious complication that can occur after lung transplantation and is not related to infectious etiologies like Pneumonia or Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections. Unlike Pulmonary Infarction and Pulmonary Hypertension, BOS is characterized by the inflammation and fibrosis of the small airways, which results in the obstructive symptoms described.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and emphysema are conditions with symptoms that overlap with BOS, but they are associated with different etiologies and structural lung changes, often related to smoking and the destruction of alveoli, leading to decreased gas exchange. In BOS, the problem lies in the airways rather than the alveoli. Monitoring and managing the patient's lung function is critical, as BOS can lead to a decline in the patient's quality of life and affect long-term transplant success.

User Bojan Resnik
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