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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What are the chances that a lung transplant is rejected?

    My father has a serious case of COPD and transplant is the best method of treatment at this point. I have heard that sometimes organs are rejected – what causes this and what is the likelihood?
  • Find a professional to answer your question

  • Dr Mark Hurwitz

    Respiratory & Sleep Medicine Physician

    Director Respiratory and Sleep Medicine The Canberra Hospital Clinical Associate Professor The Australian National University Medical School View Profile

    Unfortunately, there certainly is a risk of having an episode of rejection if you had any transplant for that matter, but that would certainly include lung transplantation. I can't quote any absolute percentages. It would probably be better to get that advice in that regard from the transplant units at one of the hospitals. But, generally, the prognosis now is certainly very much better as immunosuppressants have improved. It can be much better managed as both acute and chronic rejection clearly needs to be monitored in the long-term. And one always has to weigh the decision of who one is going to transplant, and if you have such a severe disease that one's only real management option includes transplantation, then clearly the benefit outweighs the risk.

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