Plasma concentrations of histidine-rich glycoprotein in primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation

OBJECTIVES: Histidine-rich glycoprotein has been reported as an anti-inflammatory glycoprotein that inhibits acute lung injury in mice with sepsis and as a prognostic biomarker in patients with sepsis. We investigated the relationship between plasma concentrations of histidine-rich glycoprotein and the risk of occurrence of primary graft dysfunction. METHODS: According to the primary graft dysfunction grade at post-transplant 72 h, patients who underwent lung transplantation were divided into three groups: non-primary graft dysfunction group (grade 0–1), moderate primary graft dysfunction group (grade 2), and severe primary graft dysfunction group (grade 3). The plasma concentrations of histidine-rich glycoprotein measured daily during the first post-transplant 7 days were compared among the three groups. Appropriate cutoff values of the concentrations were set for survival analyses after lung transplantation. RESULTS: A total of 68 patients were included. The plasma histidine-rich glycoprotein concentration at post-transplant 72 h was significantly lower in the severe primary graft dysfunction group (n ¼ 7) than in the other two groups [non-primary graft dysfunction group (n ¼ 43), P ¼ 0.042; moderate primary graft dysfunction group (n ¼ 18), P ¼ 0.040]. Patients with plasma histidine-rich glycoprotein concentration ≥34.4 mg/ml at post-transplant 72 h had significantly better chronic lung allograft dysfunction-free survival (P ¼ 0.012) and overall survival (P ¼ 0.037) than those with the concentration <34.4 mg/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma histidine-rich glycoprotein concentrations at post-transplant 72 h might be associated with the risk of development of primary graft dysfunction.