Objetivo: Avaliar o perfil funcional do esôfago e a prevalência de refluxo gastroesofágico (RGE) em pacientes candidatos a transplante pulmonar. Métodos: Foram analisados prospectivamente entre Junho de 2005 a Novembro de 2006, 55 pacientes candidatos a transplante pulmonar da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre. Os pacientes foram submetidos a esofagomanometria estacionária e pHmetria esofágica ambulatorial de 24 horas de um e dois eletrodos antes de serem submetidos ao transplante pulmonar. Resultados: A esofagomanometria foi anormal em 80% dos pacientes e a pHmetria revelou RGE ácido patológico em 24%. Os sintomas digestivos apresentaram sensibilidade de 50% e especificidade de 61% para RGE. Noventa e quatro por cento dos pacientes com DPOC apresentaram alteração à manometria, sendo a hipotonia do esfíncter inferior o achado mais frequente (80%). Pacientes com bronquiectasias apresentaram a maior prevalência de RGE (50%). Conclusões: RGE é achado freqüente em pacientes com doença pulmonar avançada. Na população examinada, a presença de sintomas digestivos de RGE não foi preditiva de refluxo ácido patológico. A contribuição do RGE na rejeição crônica deve ser considerada e requer estudos posteriores para seu esclarecimento. / Objective: To assess the prevalecence of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) and esophageal motor profile in lung transplant candidates. Methods: Between July 2005 and November 2006, a prospective study was conducted in 55 candidates for lung transplantation. Patients underwent esophageal manometry and 24-hour pH testing before undergoing transplantation as an attempt to obtain the prevalence of reflux in this subset. Results: Abnormal esophageal manometry was documented in 80% of the patients and abnormal GER was documented in 24% of the patients. Reflux-related symptoms presented sensitivity and specificity of 50% and 61% for GER, respectively. Ninety-four per cent of the patients with COPD presented an abnormal esophageal manometry, and hipotensive lower esphincter was the most common finding (80%). Bronchiectasis patients presented the highest prevalence of GER (50%). Conclusions: GER is highly prevalent in end-stage lung disease. Reflux-related symptoms was not preditive of gastroesophageal reflux. The contribuition of GER to chronic rejection and allograft dysfunction must be considered and needs to be addressed in future studies.

Little is known about the early recovery of functional outcomes in the lung transplant population. This thesis investigated skeletal muscle strength, functional exercise capacity, health-related quality of life and daily physical activity pre- and early post-lung transplantation in a cohort of fifty participants. Significant functional limitations were observed pre-transplant, however levels of physical activity were higher on rehabilitation days as compared to non-rehabilitation days. Post-transplant, improvements in functional exercise capacity and physical activity lagged behind the early improvements in pulmonary function and health-related quality of life. Muscle strength was reduced at hospital discharge compared to pre-transplant levels, but improved to pre-transplant levels by three months post-transplant. In summary, significant functional limitation exists pre-transplant, and lung transplantation leads to significant improvement of functional outcomes; however functional recovery occurs at different time periods and to varying degrees, and does not reach levels of a healthy reference population by three months post-lung transplant.

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a severe complication in lung transplantation characterized by inflammation, alveolar damage, and hypoxemia. Alpha 1-antitrypsin (A1AT), a protease inhibitor, is currently used clinically for the treatment of A1AT deficiency emphysema. A1AT has been shown to have the potential to reduce IR injury through its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. We hypothesized that A1AT will ameliorate IR injury through these effects. We tested A1AT in two models of IR: a cell culture model of simulated lung transplantation and a rat in situ pulmonary ligation model. In cell culture, we found that A1AT exerts its protective effects by inhibiting cell death and inflammatory cytokine release in a dose-dependent manner. In the rat pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion model, we found that A1AT improved lung function by inhibiting apoptosis and inflammation. There is potential for future application of A1AT in the treatment of IR injury in lung transplantation.

Little is known about the early recovery of functional outcomes in the lung transplant population. This thesis investigated skeletal muscle strength, functional exercise capacity, health-related quality of life and daily physical activity pre- and early post-lung transplantation in a cohort of fifty participants. Significant functional limitations were observed pre-transplant, however levels of physical activity were higher on rehabilitation days as compared to non-rehabilitation days. Post-transplant, improvements in functional exercise capacity and physical activity lagged behind the early improvements in pulmonary function and health-related quality of life. Muscle strength was reduced at hospital discharge compared to pre-transplant levels, but improved to pre-transplant levels by three months post-transplant. In summary, significant functional limitation exists pre-transplant, and lung transplantation leads to significant improvement of functional outcomes; however functional recovery occurs at different time periods and to varying degrees, and does not reach levels of a healthy reference population by three months post-lung transplant.

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a severe complication in lung transplantation characterized by inflammation, alveolar damage, and hypoxemia. Alpha 1-antitrypsin (A1AT), a protease inhibitor, is currently used clinically for the treatment of A1AT deficiency emphysema. A1AT has been shown to have the potential to reduce IR injury through its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. We hypothesized that A1AT will ameliorate IR injury through these effects. We tested A1AT in two models of IR: a cell culture model of simulated lung transplantation and a rat in situ pulmonary ligation model. In cell culture, we found that A1AT exerts its protective effects by inhibiting cell death and inflammatory cytokine release in a dose-dependent manner. In the rat pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion model, we found that A1AT improved lung function by inhibiting apoptosis and inflammation. There is potential for future application of A1AT in the treatment of IR injury in lung transplantation.

Objetivo: comparar a profilaxia universal com a terapia preemptiva com ganciclovir endovenoso no manejo da citomegalovirose em pacientes transplantados de pulmão em uma coorte retrospectiva. Metodologia: de março de 1999 a dezembro de 2009 foram estudados, no Serviço de Transplante do Complexo Hospitalar Santa Casa de Porto Alegre, todos os pacientes submetidos a transplante pulmonar, procurando-se verificar a ocorrência de citomegalovirose relacionada ao tipo de tratamento profilático anti-viral utilizado (universal e preemptiva). Foram excluídos, em ambos os grupos, os pacientes nos quais não tivesse sido registrada a antigenemia no primeiro mês após o transplante, e os que foram a óbito dentro dos primeiros trinta dias após a cirurgia. Resultados: de 224 pacientes transplantados no período referido, 66 (29,5%) foram excluídos por óbito precoce. Os 158 pacientes que entraram no estudo tinham idade de 51±15 anos (7 anoa-71 anos), e 61,0% eram do sexo masculino; 150 (95%) receberam o órgão de doador cadavérico, e 134 (85,0%) foram submetidos a transplante unilateral. A profilaxia universal para citomegalovirus (CMV) foi realizada em 70 pacientes (44,0%) e a terapia preemptiva em 88 (56,0%). O grupo que recebeu profilaxia universal levou maior tempo para positivar o exame (p<0.001) comparado com o grupo que não a recebeu. Houve associação significativa entre profilaxia e antigenemia positiva no primeiro ano após o transplante (p=0.024). A mortalidade no primeiro e no quinto ano foi respectivamente de 20% e 50%. A sobrevida mediana do grupo com profilaxia universal foi 3.8 anos (IC95% de 2.5 a 5.0) e o grupo com terapia preemptiva de 4,3 anos (IC95% de 2.5 a 6.0), não apresentando diferença significativa. Conclusão: com base nos dados obtidos neste estudo a profilaxia universal e a terapia preemptiva demonstraram-se seguras e efetivas, entretanto os achados desta pesquisa não se demonstraram conclusivos para definir a melhor opção terapêutica. / Objective: To compare the universal prophylaxis and preemptive therapy for the treatment of cytomegalovirus in lung transplant patients in a retrospective cohort. Method: Performed at the Lung Transplant service in Santa Casa de Porto Alegre during the period from March 1999 to December 2009, upon reviewing the records and results of cytomegalovirus detection. Were excluded in both groups the patients who were not registered antigenemia in the first month after lung transplantation, due to death during this period. Results: 224 patients transplanted during the study period, 66 patients were excluded due to death within 30 days after transplantation. Mean age of patients was 51 ± 15 years old, 61.0% were men, 95.0% received organ of cadaveric donors, 85.0% were submited to unilateral transplant. The universal prophylaxis was performed in 44.0% of patients and preemptive therapy in 56.0%. The group receiving prophylaxis universal took longer to make positive antigenemia (p <0.001) when compared with the group not receiving prophylaxis. It was observed significant association between positive antigenemia and prophylaxis in the first year after transplantation (p = 0.024). The general mortality in the first and fifth year was 20.0% and 50.0% respectively. Survival of patients with prophylaxis presented a median of 3.8 (95% CI 2,5 to 5.0) years and the group that received no prophylaxis had a survival of 4,3 years (95% CI 2.5 to 6.0). Conclusion: Based on the data obtained in this study universal prophylaxis and preemptive therapy demonstrated to be safe and effective, however the findings of this research did not prove conclusive to determine the best treatment.

Whilst the major caveat to the success of organ transplantation remains the severe lack of donor organs, rejection is still a primary confounding factor to transplant outcomes. This is an allospecific response that occurs when the recipient immune system recognises conserved proteins on donor-derived cells as 'non-self'. Currently, all immunosuppressive regimes target the recipient immune response, ignoring the large donor immune repertoire despite these cells playing a central role in acute rejection. This is likely as a result of a lack of understanding of the temporal migration of the donor compartment and its contribution to the inflammatory cascade that ensues. The development of ex vivo perfusion provides the opportunity to assess this in isolation, with no confounding factors. Furthermore, inducing the mobilisation of passenger leukocytes on an ex vivo circuit allows their removal prior to transplantation. Reducing the inflammatory burden of donor organs has the potential to impact on the clinical outcome of patients, manifesting as a reduction in the incidence or severity of acute rejection. The aim of this PhD thesis was to characterise the donor immune compartment of lungs and kidneys, to assess the impact of ex vivo perfusion on this, and determine the post-transplant impact of removing a proportion of these cells. For this purpose, donor lungs were perfused using ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) and the immune compartment characterised. A comparison of EVLP versus standard transplanted lungs was performed using a porcine transplant model. Clinical parameters were recorded and a histological assessment of cellular infiltration was performed to diagnose the incidence of acute rejection. To determine if these results were translatable to other organs, a porcine model of kidney ex vivo perfusion was established. In both models, a significant efflux of donor leukocytes was observed and inflammatory mediators detected. In a transplant model of EVLP, reducing the transfer of these passenger leukocytes translated into improved clinical outcomes, manifesting as a lower incidence of acute rejection, for animals receiving EVLP lungs compared to a standard transplant. Similar benefit is likely to occur following transplantation of perfused kidneys. This study describes for the first time the contribution of donor organs to the inflammatory processes that ensue following transplantation. It is clear that this untargeted population is of significant importance in clinical outcomes. Immunomodulatory strategies to alter the donor immune environment prior to transplantation therefore warrant development.

O Platelia® Aspergillus EIA é um teste de ELISA sanduíche para diagnóstico precoce de aspergilose em pacientes neutropênicos que se baseia na detecção de um antígeno (galactomanana) da parede celular de Aspergillus spp. O trabalho objetivou avaliar a eficácia deste teste em outros hospedeiros suscetíveis à aspergilose e ainda, avaliar a interferência de potenciais falso-positivos no Platelia® Aspergillus EIA, como outras micoses sistêmicas e um antimicrobiano produzido a partir de fungos (piperacilina-tazobactam). Quatro experimentos foram realizados para contemplar os objetivos propostos. Amostras de lavado broncoalveolar de 60 pacientes transplantados de pulmão provenientes da Santa-Casa Complexo Hospitalar de Porto Alegre foram colhidas durante um período de aproximadamente 2 anos e testadas para detecção de galactomanana. Os pacientes foram classificados em aspergilose comprovada, provável e possível, colonização ou exame de vigilância de acordo com critérios do EORTC. Utilizando os casos comprovados (5) e prováveis (6) como positivos, foi calculada a curva ROC que demonstrou valores de sensibilidade de 90,9% e especificidade de 90,6% em um ponto de corte de 1,5. A eficácia do Platelia® Aspergillus EIA foi avaliada também em pingüins em cativeiro. Soros de 35 animais foram incluídos no estudo, 9 com aspergilose, 3 com malária, 2 com caquexia e 21 saudáveis. Os soros foram testados por imunodifusão dupla e ELISA sanduíche, resultando em valores de sensibilidade de 33% e 100% e especificidade de 96% e 0, respectivamente. A reação cruzada de outras micoses sistêmicas no Platelia® Aspergillus EIA foi avaliada a partir de 120 amostras de soro de pacientes com paracoccidioidomicose, histoplasmose, criptococose por Cryptococcus neoformans e criptococose por C. gattii. Todas as micoses foram responsáveis por resultados falso-positivos no ELISA sanduíche, sendo de 50%, 67%, 66% e 36,6% a taxa de positividade de cada micose, respectivamente. Em adição, 5 lotes de piperacilina-tazobactam foram testados em concentração de uso clínico (45mg/ml) para avaliação de interferência no Platelia® Aspergillus EIA. Destas, apenas uma resultou em valores maiores do que o ponto de corte (0,5), sendo submetida a sucessivas diluições até mimetizar concentrações plasmáticas do fármaco alcançáveis no soro humano, as quais resultaram em valores menores que 0,5, sendo consideradas negativas. Concluindo, utilizando um ponto de corte maior do que indicado pelo fabricante para uso em neutropênicos, a eficácia do teste foi comprovada para utilização em amostras de lavado broncoalveolar de pacientes transplantados de pulmão. Por outro lado, no hospedeiro animal testado, pingüins, o teste apresentou especificidade nula, não possuindo aplicabilidade como ferramenta diagnóstica para aspergilose neste grupo. Quanto aos fatores de interferência no Platelia® Aspergillus EIA avaliados, a alta taxa de resultados falso-positivos referentes à infecção por outras micoses sistêmicas reflete na necessidade de interpretar um teste positivo dentro do contexto epidemiológico do paciente. Por outro lado, as piperacilinas-tazobactam disponíveis no mercado brasileiro não interferiram no resultado do Platelia® Aspergillus EIA. No entanto como a variabilidade de galactomanana existe entre lotes, ainda é aconselhável que as amostras para realização do ELISA sanduíche sejam colhidas antes da próxima administração do fármaco. / Platelia® Aspergillus EIA is a sandwich ELISA to the diagnostic of aspergillosis in neutropenic patients. It detects an antigen (galactomannan) from Aspergillus cell wall. Here it was evaluated the performance of this test in other susceptible hosts and the interference of potentials false-positives factors in Platelia® Aspergillus EIA. Systemic mycosis and an antimicrobial produced from molds (piperacillin-tazobactam) were tested. Four experiments were executed to study conduce. Bronchoalveolar samples from 60 lung transplant recipients from Santa Casa-Complexo Hospitalar de Porto Alegre were collected during almost two years and tested for galactomannan detection. Patients were classified in proven, probable or possible aspergillosis according to EORTC criteria, or in colonization or surveillance. Considering proven (5) and probable (6) as true positive cases, ROC curve was calculated and showed 90.9% of sensitivity and 90.6% of specificity with 1.5 as optimal cutoff. Platelia® Aspergillus EIA efficacy was also tested in captive penguins. Sera from 35 animals were included in the study, 9 with aspergillosis, 3 with malaria, 2 with cachexia and 21 healthy. Samples were tested by double immunodiffusion and sandwich ELISA, resulting in sensitivity values of 33% and 100% and specificity of 96% and 0, respectively. Cross reaction in Platelia® Aspergillus EIA was evaluated with 120 serum samples of patients with paracocciddioidomicosis, histoplasmosis, criptococosis due to Cryptococcus neoformans and criptococosis due to C. gattii. False-positive results were observed in all mycosis, with rates of 50%, 67%, 66% and 36,6%, respectively. In addition, 5 piperacillin-tazobactam batches were tested, in a concentration of clinical use (45mg/ml), to evaluate it interference in Platelia® Aspergillus EIA. Those, only one showed positive value, and had been retest after serial dilutions until plasmatic concentration, resulting in value lower than 0.5, negative. In conclusion, with a higher cut-off than the indicated from the manufacturer, the efficacy of bronchoalveolar samples tested in Platelia® Aspergillus EIA for the diagnostic of aspergillosis in lung transplant recipients was proved. Controversially, in penguins, the test specificity was zero, showing non applicability as a diagnostic method for aspergillosis in this group of risk. Interference in Platelia® Aspergillus EIA due to other systemic mycoses shows the necessity to interpret a positive result after the evaluation of patient epidemiologic context. Finally, piperacillin-tazobactam available in the Brazilian market did not correspond to false-positive results in Platelia® Aspergillus EIA. However, given that variability occurs between distinct batches, still is indicating to collect samples for galactomannan detection before the next administration of the drug.

Objetivo: Avaliar o perfil funcional do esôfago e a prevalência de refluxo gastroesofágico (RGE) em pacientes candidatos a transplante pulmonar. Métodos: Foram analisados prospectivamente entre Junho de 2005 a Novembro de 2006, 55 pacientes candidatos a transplante pulmonar da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre. Os pacientes foram submetidos a esofagomanometria estacionária e pHmetria esofágica ambulatorial de 24 horas de um e dois eletrodos antes de serem submetidos ao transplante pulmonar. Resultados: A esofagomanometria foi anormal em 80% dos pacientes e a pHmetria revelou RGE ácido patológico em 24%. Os sintomas digestivos apresentaram sensibilidade de 50% e especificidade de 61% para RGE. Noventa e quatro por cento dos pacientes com DPOC apresentaram alteração à manometria, sendo a hipotonia do esfíncter inferior o achado mais frequente (80%). Pacientes com bronquiectasias apresentaram a maior prevalência de RGE (50%). Conclusões: RGE é achado freqüente em pacientes com doença pulmonar avançada. Na população examinada, a presença de sintomas digestivos de RGE não foi preditiva de refluxo ácido patológico. A contribuição do RGE na rejeição crônica deve ser considerada e requer estudos posteriores para seu esclarecimento. / Objective: To assess the prevalecence of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) and esophageal motor profile in lung transplant candidates. Methods: Between July 2005 and November 2006, a prospective study was conducted in 55 candidates for lung transplantation. Patients underwent esophageal manometry and 24-hour pH testing before undergoing transplantation as an attempt to obtain the prevalence of reflux in this subset. Results: Abnormal esophageal manometry was documented in 80% of the patients and abnormal GER was documented in 24% of the patients. Reflux-related symptoms presented sensitivity and specificity of 50% and 61% for GER, respectively. Ninety-four per cent of the patients with COPD presented an abnormal esophageal manometry, and hipotensive lower esphincter was the most common finding (80%). Bronchiectasis patients presented the highest prevalence of GER (50%). Conclusions: GER is highly prevalent in end-stage lung disease. Reflux-related symptoms was not preditive of gastroesophageal reflux. The contribuition of GER to chronic rejection and allograft dysfunction must be considered and needs to be addressed in future studies.

Introdução: As doenças respiratórias ocupacionais constituem um grave problema de saúde pública na realidade brasileira. A silicose é a pneumoconiose mais prevalente, considerada a principal causa de invalidez entre as doenças respiratórias ocupacionais e pode desenvolver uma forma grave de pneumopatia fibrosante levando a insuficiência respiratória crônica onde apenas o transplante pulmonar é a terapia capaz de re-estabelecer a qualidade de vida e assim prolongar a sobrevida destes indivíduos. Objetivo: Fazer uma revisão sistemalizada da literatura sobre o tema “transplante pulmonar” e “silicose” e “sobrevida”, além de avaliar o resultado do transplante pulmonar realizado em pacientes com silicose em estágio terminal, comparando as alterações de função pulmonar entre aqueles submetidos à cirurgia com aqueles que não foram operados, além de detectar os fatores prognósticos que podem influenciar a sobrevida dos pacientes submetidos a este procedimento. Métodos: Após uma busca sistematizada na literatura sobre o tema, 40 artigos foram analisados, sendo que 13 destes descorriam sobre o tema, e cinco tratavam exclusivamente de transplante de pulmão em silicose avançada. Posteriormente, foram retrospectivamente estudados os prontuários de 26 pacientes listados para tranplante pulmonar por silicose pulmonar em estágio terminal, no período entre janeiro de 1989 até junho de 2015 pelo grupo de Transplante Pulmonar da Santa Casa de Porto Alegre – RS. As características epidemiológicas, as medidas de função pulmonar analisadas através de espirometria, teste de caminhada de 6 minutos, teste de difusão do monóxido de carbono, medidas de pressões da artéria pulmonar, foram comparadas entre os grupos transplante versus não transplante. As variáveis categóricas são apresentadas em números absolutos e/ou porcentagem. O pequeno número da amostra não foi suficiente para garantir a normalidade e os dados foram analisados através dos testes não paramétricos do qui-quadrado (x2), teste de Mann Whitnney e teste de Friedman. Para as análises pareadas, foi utilizado o teste de Wilcoxon. Para amostra menor que 5, o teste de exato de Fisher. As variáveis analisadas em relação aos eventos relacionados com mortalidade, foram estudadas através da correlação de Spearman. O sobrevida até o desfecho, estabelecida através da curva de Kaplan-Mayer. Foram assumidos valores de p < 0,005 como os de significância estatística. Resultados: Todos eram homens, com idade de 45,4 + 11 anos, sendo o extrativismo mineral responsável por 44,0% das ocupações. O padrão restritivo observado em 65,4 % dos casos onde 82,3% destes tinham CVF < 40,0% do previsto (CVF de 27,07 + 16,0%) com DLCO 39 + 6,2%, demostrando limitação funcional importante, marcada por uma distância percorrida no TC6M muito curta, 267,4 + 104,5 metros com dessaturação de 10,7 + 5,4%. A história de tabagismo foi observada em 46,2% e de tuberculose em 34,6%. A sobrevida global dos pacientes listados foi de 693,5 (46 – 5.250) dias, todavia no subgrupo dos pacientes transplantados foi de 1.226 (60 – 5.250) dias contra 288 (46 – 1.333) dias nos não transplantados (p= 0,002). A sobrevida após o transplante foi 889 (3 – 5.176) dias, sendo de 85,7% no 1o mês, 69% no 1o ano, 44,0% em três anos e 25,0% em cinco. Apenas o tempo de isquemia foi significamente maior no grupo que faleceu (p= 0,042), entretanto, na análise multivariada, pôde-se perceber que o tempo de isquemia (p= 000, Ro= - 0,842), o tempo de ventilação mecânica (p= 0,045, Ro= - 0,507) e o tempo de permanência dos drenos (p= 0,025, Ro= - 0,558), tiveram impacto negativo sobre a sobrevida. Conclusão: Embora ainda não sejam claros os critérios de indicação de transplante em silicose avançada, observamos que os pacientes mais emagrecidos e possivelmente desnutridos, assim como aqueles com pior função pulmonar, tendem a morrer mais precocemente sem o procedimento. Por outro lado, no grupo de pacientes operados, um tempo de isquemia prolongado, o sangramento transoperatório (desde o ato cirúrgico até a retirada dos drenos) visto através da permanência dos drenos de tórax e a duraçao da ventilação mecânica invasiva, estiveram relacionados com óbito. Ainda que esta série seja a maior encontrada de transplante pulmonar por silicose realizada em um único centro, um número maior de pacientes deve ser estudado e acompanhados para que estas e outras questões possam ser elucidadas. / Background: Occupational respiratory diseases are a serious public health problem in Brazil. Silicosis is the most prevalent pneumoconiosis, considered the leading cause of disability among occupational respiratory diseases. It may develop a severe form of lung fibrosis, leading to chronic respiratory failure, where only therapy that can re-establish the quality of life, and thus prolong the survival of these individuals is lung transplantation. Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of lung transplantation performed in patients with silicosis in terminal stage, comparing the changes in lung function among those undergoing surgery with those who did not undergo surgery, and detect prognostic factors that may influence the survival of patients undergoing this procedure. Methods: We performed a systematic literature review for key words “lung transplantation”, “silicosis”, “survival”, and found 40 articles, wherin 13 adressed this specific theme, and only five exclusivelly to lung transplantation due advanced (end-stage) silicosis. Then, we retrospectively studied the medical records of 26 patients listed for lung tranplante by pulmonary silicosis in terminal stage, in the period from January 1989 to June 2015 by the Lung Transplant group of Santa Casa de Porto Alegre - RS. Epidemiological characteristics, lung function measurements analyzed by spirometry, 6-minute walk test, carbon monoxide diffusion test, pressure measurements of the pulmonary artery, were compared between the transplant versus not transplantation groups. Categorical variables expressed as absolute numbers and/or percentage. The small sample size was not sufficient to ensure the normality, and data were analyzed using non-parametric tests of the chi-square (x2), Mann Whitnney, test and Friedman test. For paired analysis, the Wilcoxon test was used. Sample less than 5, Fisher's exact test was used. The variables analyzed related to mortality were studied by Spearman correlation. The survival rate until the outcome, established by Kaplan- Mayer curve. Values os p <0.005 assumed as statistical significance. Results: All were men, aged 45.4 + 11 years, the mineral extraction accounted for 44.0% of occupation. The restrictive pattern observed in 65.4% of cases where 82.3% of them had FVC <40.0% of predicted (FVC 27.1+ 16,0%) with DLCO 39 + 6.2%, showing significant functional limitation, marked by a very short distance in the 6MWT, 267.4 + 104.5 meters with desaturation 10.7 + 5.4%. A history of smoking was observed in 46.2% and tuberculosis in 34.6%. The overall survival of patients was found 693.5 (46 - 5,250) days, however the subgroup of transplant patients was 1.226 (60 - 5,250) against 288 days (46 - 1,333) in the non-transplanted days (p = 0.002). The survival after transplantation was 889 (3 - 5.176) days, and 85.7% were alive at the first month, 69.0% at 1st year, 44.0% at three years, and 25.0% at five. Only the ischemic time was significantly higher in patients who died (p = 0.042), however, in the multivariate analysis, it was possible to realize that the ischemic time (p = 000, rs = - 0.842), the duration of mechanical ventilation ( p = 0.045, rs = - 0.507) and the drains length of stay (p = 0.025, rs = - 0.558), had a negative impact on survival. Conclusion: Although advanced silicosis in transplant indication criteria are still unclear, we found that the most emaciated and possibly malnourished patients, and those with poor lung function, tend to die earlier without the procedure. On the other hand, those that were operated, a prolonged ischemic time, intraoperative bleeding (from the surgery to the removal of drains) seen through the permanence of thoracic drains, and the duration of mechanical ventilation, were related to death. Although this series is the largest found related to lung transplantation due end stage silicosis performed at a single center, a larger number of patients should be studied and monitored for these and other questions can be clarified.