Association of protein C and type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor with primary graft dysfunction

Background: Acute lung injury is characterized by hypercoagulability and impaired fibrinolysis. We hypothesized that lower protein C and higher type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) levels in plasma would be associated with primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation. Design: Prospective, multicenter cohort study. Methods: We measured plasma levels of protein C and PAI-1 before lung transplantation and 6, 24, 48, and 72 h after allograft reperfusion in 128 lung transplant recipients at six centers. The primary outcome was grade 3 PGD (Pa_O2/FI_O2 < 200 with alveolar infiltrates) 72 h after transplantation. Biomarker profiles were evaluated using logistic regression and generalized estimating equations. Results: Patients who developed PGD had lower protein C levels 24 h posttransplantation than did patients without PGD (mean ± SD [relative to control]: 64 ± 27 vs. 92 ± 41%, respectively; p = 0.002). Patients with PGD also had PAI-1 levels that were almost double those of patients without PGD at 24 h (213 ± 144 vs. 117 ± 89 ng/ml, respectively; p < 0.001). Throughout the 72-h postoperative period, protein C levels were significantly lower (p = 0.007) and PAI-1 levels were higher (p = 0.026) in subjects with PGD than in others. These differences persisted despite adjustment for potential confounders in multivariate analyses. Higher recipient pulmonary artery pressures, measured immediately pretransplantation, were associated with higher PAI-1 levels and increased risk of PGD. Conclusion: Lower postoperative protein C and higher PAI-1 plasma levels are associated with PGD after lung transplantation. Impaired fibrinolysis and enhanced coagulation may be important in PGD pathogenesis.