Anikó Bohács

Semmelweis University | SOTE · Department of Pulmonology

Background Donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) are common following lung transplantation (LuTx), yet their role in graft damage is inconclusive. Mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) is the main read-out of DSA diagnostics; however its value is often disregarded when analyzing unwanted post-transplant outcomes such as graft loss or chronic lung allograft d...

Diagnosing interstitial lung disease (ILD) can be a challenging process. New biomarkers may support diagnostic decisions. Elevated serum progranulin (PGRN) levels have been reported in liver fibrosis and dermatomyositis-associated acute interstitial pneumonia. Our aim was to assess the role of PGRN in the differential diagnosis of idiopathic pulmon...

COVID-19 is often associated with long-lasting pulmonary symptoms. Data are scarce about interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients following COVID-19 hospitalization with persistent symptoms. We retrospectively reviewed all cases sent to pulmonary post-COVID evaluation due to persistent symptoms between February 2021 and February 2022 (N = 318)....

Background: Both lung transplant recipients and candidates are characterised by reduced training capacity and low average quality of life (QoL). This review investigates the impact of training on exercise ability and QoL in patients before and after lung transplant. Methods: Searches were conducted from the beginning to 7 March 2022 using the te...

Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients represent a vulnerable patient population and are of high risk for airborne viral infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). Treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 is still challenging, as no proven therapeutic regimen is available for immunocompromised patients. O...

Lung transplant recipients are at risk for life-threatening infections including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-associated COVID-19. Several viral infections have been associated with the development of chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Long-term outcomes of COVID-19 on graft function are not known. A 53-year-old female patient,...

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the leading cause of mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) is defined as progression in 2 domains including clinical, radiological or lung-function parameters. Our aim was to assess predictors of functional decline in SSc-ILD patients and compare disease behavior to that in id...

Introduction: Lung transplant recipients (LuTX) represent a vulnerable population for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Even though many vaccines are already developed, more clinical data need to support effective immunological response in immunocompromised patients. Methods: Stable LuTX recipients with no medical his...

Background: After lung transplantation (LuTX), lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) and acute cellular rejection (ACR) are associated with changes in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid mononuclear cell profile (PBMC and BALIC). PBMC is also influenced by immunosuppressive regimen and its changes with postoperative time. First-y...

Background: Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) frequently have multiple comorbidities, which may influence survival but go under-recognised in clinical practice. We therefore report comorbidity, antifibrotic treatment use and survival of patients with IPF observed in the multi-national EMPIRE registry. Methods: For this prospectiv...

(1) Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is frequently associated with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). The progressive form of SSc-ILD often limits patient survival. The aim of our study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics and predictors of lung function changes in SSc-ILD patients treated in a real-world setting. (2) Methods: All SSc-IL...

A subset of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) with autoimmune traits—including connective tissue disease-associated ILD (CTD-ILD) and interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF)—develops progressive fibrosing (PF)-ILD. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and predictors of longitudinal lung function (LF) chan...

Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder of the connective tissue, including involvement of the lungs. Pulmonary function test was performed in 32 asymptomatic adult Marfan patients using European Community for Coal and Steel (ECCS) and Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) reference values. Using GLI equations for reference, significantly lower lung...

Background: The role of pre- and post-lung transplant rehabilitation is to maintain or improve exercise tolerance, lung mechanics, peripheral- and respiratory muscle function. Our aim was to measure the effectiveness of pre- and post-transplant rehabilitation in terms of the changes of functional- and quality of life markers. Methods: Sixty-thre...

Background Fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are associated with poor survival and an increased risk of developing lung cancer (LC). Patient and LC characteristics, therapeutic possibilities and survival in this rare patient population are not well established. Methods Fibrosing ILD patients treated at the Department of Pulmonology Semme...

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently one of the leading causes of death worldwide. COPD frequently occur together with cardiovascular disease. The coexistence of the two diseases are associated with worse outcomes than either condition alone. ABPM and 24 h arterial stiffness parameters were measured in stabile COP...

Introduction Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder affecting the connective tissue. Changes in lung tissue might influence respiratory function; however, a detailed respiratory functional assessment according to the need for major thoracic surgery is missing. Methods Comprehensive pulmonary examinations were performed in 55 Marfan patients includi...

In this article we summarize the results of the first 3 years after launching the Hungarian Lung Transplantation Program. Patients and Methods: The first lung transplant in Hungary was carried out on December 12, 2015, with the collaboration of the National Institute of Oncology and the Semmelweis University. Up to December 31, 2018, a total of 62...

Background Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common genetic disorders that develops from a mutation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator gene. Patients with CF are known to be at risk for malignancies, and lung transplantation–associated immunosuppression further increases this risk. Case Report We describe a case of a 29-year-old...

Lung transplant is an effective way to treat many end-stage lung diseases. However, one of the main barriers of allograft organ transplant is still the immunologic rejection of transplanted tissue, which is a response of the HLA molecules. Rejection is a complex process involving both T-cell–mediated delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions and anti...

Introduction Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is upregulated by inflammation and plays a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with enhanced systemic inflammation and increased risk for atherosclerosis, however, studies analysing the circulating suPAR lev...

Introduction Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is one of the most common interstitial lung diseases with limited survival. The effect of IPF therapy in patients with severely impaired lung function is not well established. The aim of this study was to characterize IPF patients with a forced vital capacity (FVC) < 50% (group 1) and FVC 50–60% pred...

The first lung transplantation in Hungary was performed on 12th of December, 2015. It was a joint effort of the National Institute of Oncology and the Semmelweis University. Hereby we summarise the results and experiences from the first three years. Until August, 2018, 55 lung transplantations were performed in Hungary. This was a retrospective ana...

Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) are all characterized by changes in the adaptive immune system. In the last few decades several CD4 + T lymphocytes and their products have been associated with the development, progression, organ involvement, or therapeutic response of different CTDs. The T helper (Th) T-cell subsets are easy to measure in the per...

Asthma in pregnancy poses a risk of adverse outcomes. Osteopontin and clusterin emerged as asthma biomarkers; however, their circulating levels during pregnancy are unknown yet. This cross-sectional study investigated peripheral osteopontin and clusterin levels and their relationship to disease control in 26 asthmatic pregnant (AP), 22 asthmatic no...

Aims: Many patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have a delay in diagnosis and thus also in treatment. We investigated whether such delay influenced survival and treatment response to pirfenidone and nitedanib. Methods: The retrospective study used data from European Multipartner IPF registry (EMPIRE). 1170 IPF patients were divided to...

Most patients with IPF have comorbidities, which affect functional status, quality of life and survival. Our study aims are to analyze comorbidities in a series of 1210 IPF patients from the EMPIRE registry (European Multipartner IPF registry). Comorbidities were noted in 85.6% (1036pts), one in 23.5%, 2 in 23.0% and 3 or more in 53.5%. Median age...

Key feature of IPF is decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) and CO diffusion (DLco), but data on clinical determinants of this change in patients who have established disease are scarce. For a given patient it is unknown if different natural histories represent distinct phenotypes of IPF or if geographic, ethnic or other factors might have influen...

Background: After lung transplantation (LuTX) a high level of immunosuppression is needed to prevent rejection of the graft. Together with earlier colonization by pathogens, immunosuppression makes recipients more susceptible to infections, especially during the first postoperative year. As seasonality of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI)...

Introduction: Inhalation therapy is a cornerstone of treatment in COPD. The different operation mechanisms of these devices influence drug delivery and pulmonary drug deposition. Pulmonary drug delivery via multiple inhalers has not been studied systematically in stable and exacerbated COPD. Aims: To measure inhalation manoeuvres of COPD patients v...

Rationale: While awaiting lung transplantation, the aim of the rehabilitation is to maintain or improve exercise tolerance, lung mechanics, improve peripherial and respiratory muscle function and reduce the risk of the postoperative complications. Aims: Follow-up of different functional and quality of life markers as an effect of pretransplant pulm...

COPD is one of the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Systemic low-grade inflammation is a common finding in COPD. Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) indicates an inflammatory state and it has an association with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The suPAR reflects different aspects of inflammation as h...

Background: The pathomechanism of acute inflammatory events, i.e. infection and rejection during the follow up of lung transplanted (LTx) patients is not fully understood. Leukotrienes, products of lipoxygenase enzyme may play a potential role, however they have not been investigated before. Aims: To analyse bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) leuk...

Objective: Asthma often complicates pregnancy and represents a risk for complications. Periostin is considered as a biomarker of asthma; however, as it also plays a role in normal gestation, pregnancy may influence circulating periostin levels. This is the first study assessing periostin in asthmatic pregnancy. Methods: Plasma periostin levels w...

Background: Asthma often complicates pregnancy and represents a risk of serious pregnancy complications. The complement system contributes to asthma pathogenesis and is up-regulated in healthy gestation as well. The anaphylatoxin C5a has a major pro-inflammatory role, and the complement factor H is a main soluble regulator protein both in asthma a...

Background: Lung transplantation is a therapeutic option for the treatment of end-stage parenchymal and vascular lung diseases. Long-term survival of transplant patients, however, remains disappointing because of severe complications, such as infections and rejections affecting function of lung allografts. Since vasculature typically participates i...

Background Asthma is one of the most common conditions which complicate pregnancy. Pro- and anti-apoptotic mechanisms can be modulated by asthma accompanying pregnancy. Survivin, an anti-apoptotic protein has been implicated in the pathomechanism of asthma and also in the development of pathological pregnancies; however survivin has not been studie...

(Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2013;92(5):591–597)

Introduction Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease involving several organs, including the lungs. Previous results confirmed changes of peripheral T cell subsets in lupus patients; however no data are available about their possible relationship with pulmonary involvement. Objective To determine pulmonary manifestations and po...

Uncontrolled asthma is a risk factor for pregnancy-related complications. Hyaluronic acid (HA), a potential peripheral blood marker of tissue fibrosis in various diseases, promotes eosinophil survival and plays a role in asthmatic airway inflammation as well as in physiological processes necessary to maintain normal pregnancy; however the level of...

Supportive care during palliative chemotherapy of advanced stage lung cancer is essential to enable successful control of the disease. Active oncologic treatment most often used in lung cancer has many side effects which may impair patients’ quality of life and compromise the effectiveness of therapy. Most side effects of chemotherapy are preventab...

Asthma is a common disease among pregnant women. Uncontrolled asthma may increase the risk of maternal and foetal complications, thus optimal asthma management is elemental during pregnancy. Therapy must aim to control the disease; asthmatic women with controlled asthma should continue taking their medications during pregnancy, and maintenance ther...

Asthma has a high burden of morbidity if not controlled and may frequently complicate pregnancy, posing a risk for pregnancy outcomes. Elevated plasma level of the inflammatory biomarker soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is related to a worse prognosis in many conditions such as infectious, autoimmune, or pregnancy-related di...

Asthma is a common chronic disease complicating pregnancy with a risk for perinatal complications. Control of airway inflammation in the asthmatic pregnancy improves pregnancy outcomes. Our aim was to evaluate pH of exhaled breath condensate (EBC), a non-invasive method for the assessment of asthmatic airway inflammation, in healthy and asthmatic p...

Asthmatic inflammation during pregnancy poses a risk for maternal and fetal morbidities. Circulating T cell immune phenotype is known to correlate with airway inflammation (detectable by fractional concentration of nitric oxide present in exhaled breath (FENO)) in non-pregnant allergic asthmatics. The aim of this study was to assess the relationshi...

Context: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a role in asthma and pathological pregnancies. Objective: This is the first study assessing plasma and exhaled breath condensate VEGF levels in asthmatic pregnancy. Material and methods: Thirty-one asthmatic pregnant, 29 asthmatic nonpregnant, 28 healthy pregnant and 22 healthy nonpregna...

Asthma is a common chronic disease that may complicate pregnancy and a risk factor for complications; however, immunological mechanisms of the bilateral interactions between asthma and pregnancy are not fully understood. Healthy gestation is characterized by a sensitive balance of T(h)1/T(h)2/T(h)17/regulatory T (Treg) cells that may be altered in...

After lung transplantation, a high level of immunosuppression is needed to prevent rejection. This demand renders recipients more sensitive to infections. As pulmonary infections are a major clinical problem during the first postoperative year after lung transplantation, preventive treatment and regular surveillance examinations are needed for imme...

Lung transplantation is the only treatment for end-stage lung disease in selected patients. After lung transplantation, patient recovery is often slow owing to severe underlying diseases in the patient producing hypoxemia before, during, and after surgery, as well as infections and rejection episodes. Postoperative breathing and ventillatory disord...

Ageing lung cancer patients may be at increased risk of Cisplatin (Cp) nephrotoxicity, because of comorbidities leading to accelerated ageing of the kidneys. Therefore, the Cp-induced impairement of renal function was compared between no comorbidity (NC) and hypertension plus ischaemic heart disease (CD) patients or others having diabetes mellitus...

Asthma is one of the most common diseases complicating pregnancy and a risk factor for several maternal and fetal complications, posing a special challenge for physicians treating asthmatic pregnant women. Asthma influences the outcome of pregnancy and - vice versa - pregnancy affects asthma severity with bidirectional immunological interactions th...

Asthma influences pregnancy outcome and pregnancy affects asthma severity, but the immunologic mechanisms of these interactions are not fully elucidated. The prevalence of lymphocyte subsets was identified by cell surface markers and intracellular FoxP3 staining, in healthy non-pregnant (HNP; N = 15), healthy pregnant (HP; N=33), asthmatic non-preg...

Asthma is one of the most common chronic medical conditions that may complicate pregnancy. Asthma influences the outcome of pregnancy and, vice versa, pregnancy affects asthma severity, but the underlying immunological mechanisms of this interaction are not fully understood. As a sign of pregnancy-induced immunotolerance, attenuation of allergic re...