MICRA - Pilot Study

Overview

Acute cell rejection is a common complication of lung transplantation. The pathological diagnosis is based on the performance of transbronchial biopsies which are associated with a significant risk of potentially severe pneumothorax and hemoptysis. Confocal microscopy performed during bronchial endoscopy provides real-time images of the lungs on a microscopic scale. Thus, it is possible to visualize the alveoli, capillaries and intra-alveolar inflammatory cells. So far, work on the subject has only investigated the ability of this technique to determine the presence of acute cell rejection on post-fibroscopy analysis. Our hypothesis is that the absence of airway inflammation seen during the procedure by confocal microscopy is able to rule out the diagnosis of ACR and avoid the performance of transbronchial biopsies. Our job is to first assess the feasibility of the per-procedure evaluation and determine a decision algorithm. If the result is conclusive, a larger study will be carried out to assess the negative predictive value of this approach for the diagnosis of acute cell rejection.

During the patient's usual follow-up, if an ACR is suspected and it is decided to perform an endoscopy with transbronchial biopsies, the protocol is presented to the patient by the doctor in charge. If the patient agrees to participate in the study, consent is obtained. Collection on arrival of the patient's sex, age, weight, height, respiratory background leading to the patient's lung transplant. According to the department's protocol: carrying out functional respiratory tests, a biological assessment (CBC, hemostasis and CRP) and a chest x-ray prior to the procedure except if there is another chest imaging dating less than 24 hours testifying to the absence of pneumothorax. Premedication with hydroxyzine, insertion of a peripheral venous route, verification of the patient's identity, anticoagulant or anti-aggregating treatment and potential allergy. The fibroscopy is carried out according to the usual procedure of the service, namely: realization of 1 to 2 mg of hypnovel intravenously depending on the patient's tolerance, introduction of the fiberscope preferably via the nasal route, if impossible or contraindicated, the oral route is possible with the use of a bite block to protect the fiberscope. Visualization of the mobility of the vocal cords, trachea, carina and right and left bronchial tree up to the segmental level. Identification of the quality of the sutures and the possible presence of bronchial stenosis. Realization of a bronchial trap with bacteriological and mycological analysis. Performing a bronchoalveolar lavage (90cc of physiological serum, preferably in the middle lobe) with anatomopathological, virological, bacteriological, mycological and mycobacteriological analysis. At this stage, the confocal microscopy procedure begins: Taking pictures for post-procedure analysis in 4 different territories. For each territory, the investigator need to get a snapshot of a vascular structure and a snapshot of an alveolus. Analysis per procedure: the same operator analyzes the alveoli deemed to be representative in real time. It determines the presence of intra-alveolar inflammatory cells and answers the question of the main criterion: possible interpretation in confocal microscopy? YES / NO, the clinical researcher immediately notes the answer in the CRF. Based on this per-procedure analysis, if he deems the interpretation possible, the operator declares if he concludes that pulmonary inflammation is present YES / NO, the response is noted immediately in the CRF. The fibroscopy procedure is then resumed as usual in the department, namely: Performing 5 to 6 transbronchial biopsies. The number of biopsies depends on the patient's tolerance and the occurrence of complications such as hemorrhage or pneumothorax. Checking at the end of the procedure for the absence of active intra-bronchial bleeding, followed by a frontal chest X-ray to check for the absence of pneumothorax (examination carried out routinely even in the event of bronchial endoscopy with simple BTB). If there are no complications and if the pathological analysis of the lung biopsies does not conclude that there is an acute cellular rejection, the patient can return home at the end of the day. If the pathologist concludes that there is a rejection or that there is a complication, the patient remains hospitalized for the time necessary for medical treatment.