Heart transplantation in selected patients aged 60 years and older: a two-decade retrospective and multicentre analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study analysed survival and long-term outcomes of heart transplantation in patients aged 60 years and older. We also analysed the impact of a national graft allocation priority [Super Emergency (SE)] and compared survival with younger patients in our centres and in France. METHODS: We performed a multicentre (University Hospitals in Nantes, Rennes and Tours), 2-decade retrospective study between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 2013. Elderly recipients were placed on the same list as younger patients; the use of marginal donors remained occasional. RESULTS: A total of 212 patients aged between 60 and 68 years were included. The 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 83.2%, 77.4% and 63.8%, respectively, which were significantly worse than those of recipients aged <60 years (1-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates of 87.3%, 80.4% and 68.0%, respectively). The postoperative course was acceptable. The main cause of death was malignancy (29.8% in our cohort). Survival was similar between the first and second decades and among the SE group. Our population exhibited better survival than patients <60 years transplanted in France during the same period with 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates of 76.8%, 68.0% and 56.3%, respectively. Predictors of survival in the multivariate analysis included ischaemic cardiomyopathy [hazard ratio (HR) 4.1] and postoperative complications, such as dialysis (HR 9.5) and mechanical circulatory support (HR 4.2). CONCLUSIONS: We report positive postoperative course and long-term outcomes after heart transplantation in older recipients using conventional donors. Our satisfactory outcomes may be explained by the stringent selection of recipients combined with regular follow-up.

Impact of Heart Transplantation on Survival in Patients on Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation at Listing in France.

BACKGROUND: Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is increasingly used as a short-term circulatory support in patients with refractory cardiogenic shock providing a bridge to long-term mechanical circulatory support or transplantation. In France, a higher priority status is granted to transplant candidates on VA-ECMO than to those on long-term mechanical circulatory support. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of transplantation as primary therapy on survival in patients on VA-ECMO at listing. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of data from the French national registry CRISTAL including all patients (n = 866) newly registered on the waiting list for heart transplantation between January 2010 and December 2011. We compared outcomes of 80 patients on VA-ECMO at listing to outcomes of the comparison group. In the VA-ECMO group, a Cox proportional hazard model with transplantation as a time dependent variable was used to evaluate the effect of transplantation on survival. RESULTS: Patients on VA-ECMO were more often on ventilator and dialysis and had a higher bilirubin level than other candidates. One-year overall survival rate was lower in candidates from the study group (52.2%) compared with comparison group (75.5%), (P < 0.01). One-year posttransplant survival was 70% in the VA-ECMO group and 81% in comparison group (P = 0.06). In the VA-ECMO group, transplantation was associated with a lower risk of mortality (hazard ratio, 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.9). CONCLUSIONS: Transplantation provides a survival benefit in listed patients on VA-ECMO even if posttransplant survival remains inferior than for patients without VA-ECMO. Transplantation may be considered to be an acceptable primary therapy in selected patients on VA-ECMO.

Impact of the early reduction of cyclosporine on renal function in heart transplant patients: a French randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Using reduced doses of Cyclosporine A immediately after heart transplantation in clinical trials may suggest benefits for renal function by reducing serum creatinine levels without a significant change in clinical endpoints. However, these trials were not sufficiently powered to prove clinical outcomes. METHODS: In a prospective, multicentre, open-label, parallel-group controlled trial, 95 patients aged 18 to 65 years old, undergoing de novo heart transplantation were centrally randomised to receive either a low (130 < trough CsA concentrations <200 µg/L, n = 47) or a standard dose of Cyclosporine A (200 < trough CsA concentrations <300 µg/L, n = 48) for the three first post-transplant months along with mycophenolate mofetil and corticosteroids. Participants had a stable haemodynamic status, a serum creatinine level <250 µmol/L and the donors' cold ischemia time was under six hours; multiorgan transplants were excluded. The change in serum creatinine level over 12 months was used as the main criterion for renal function. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed on the 95 randomised patients and a mixed generalised linear model of covariance was applied. RESULTS: At 12 months, the mean (± SD) creatinine value was 120.7 µmol/L (± 35.8) in the low-dose group and 132.3 µmol/L (± 49.1) in the standard-dose group (P = 0.162). Post hoc analyses suggested that patients with higher creatinine levels at baseline benefited significantly from the lower Cyclosporine A target. The number of patients with at least one rejection episode was not significantly different but one patient in the low-dose group and six in the standard-dose group required dialysis. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with de novo cardiac transplantation, early Cyclosporine A dose reduction was not associated with renal benefit at 12 months. However, the strategy may benefit patients with high creatinine levels before transplantation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00159159.

[Toxoplasmic cyst and heart transplant: a case report of serological reactivation in an acute graft rejection context]. / Kyste toxoplasmique et transplant cardiaque : cas d'une réactivation sérologique dans un contexte de rejet de greffe.

We describe the case of a serological reactivation in a Toxoplasma-seropositive subject, following a cardiac transplantation transmitting cysts contained in the myocardial tissue. In a context of acute graft rejection, primary chemoprophylaxis enables to avoid onset of opportunistic toxoplasmosis, emerging with immunodepletion performed by high-dose steroids. Then, we draw up a brief review of the bibliographical literature about pathophysiological mechanisms of toxoplasmic reactivation in heart transplants.

Sustained virologic response with ribavirin in chronic hepatitis E virus infection in heart transplantation.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging problem amongst transplant recipients. We report a patient with chronic HEV hepatitis after a heart transplant. The patient received a 3-month course of oral ribavirin (17 mg/kg/day). HEV RNA became undetectable in the serum after 1 month of treatment and remained undetectable in serum and stool samples until the last follow-up, 2 months after completion of ribavirin therapy. The values of liver function indicators returned to normal reference ranges. The main ribavirin-induced side effect was a significant but well-tolerated anemia. We confirmed that ribavirin may induce a sustained virologic response (4 months after ribavirin cessation) in heart transplant patients with chronic HEV infection. Liver cytolysis is rather common in patients after heart transplantation. Rapid evolution to liver fibrosis lesions and available anti-viral therapy highlight the need to look for HEV infection in heart transplant recipients with unexplained hepatitis.

Perimount pericardial bioprosthesis for aortic calcified stenosis: 18-year experience with 1133 patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most important cause of aortic valve disease, its prevalence increasing with patient age. The present study formed part of a long-term evaluation on use of the Perimount pericardial valve for aortic calcified stenosis. METHODS: A total of 1133 consecutive patients who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) with a Perimount pericardial bioprosthesis for degenerative AS between July 1984 and December 2003 at the authors' institution, was followed up in 2004. Among the patients (716 males, 417 females; mean age 72.6 years), 997 were in sinus rhythm, and the mean NYHA functional class was 2.3. Preoperative echocardiography indicated a mean gradient of 56 mmHg, a peak gradient of 89 mmHg, and an effective orifice area of 0.6 cm2. Associated procedures were required in 336 patients. RESULTS: All patients but 18 (1.5%) were followed up for an average of 5.5 years postoperatively; thus, the total follow up was 6,180 patient-years. Operative mortality was 2.8% (n=32), and there were 330 late deaths. At 18 years the actuarial survival rate was 22 +/- 4%. Among the 725 patients followed, 80% were in sinus rhythm and 98% in NYHA classes I or II. Valve-related complications included 39 thromboembolic episodes, 24 endocarditis, 22 anticoagulant-related hemorrhage, 28 reoperations, and 19 structural valve failures. A total of 54 patients died from valve-related causes (13 embolic events, two endocarditis, two hemorrhage, one structural failure, 36 unknown causes), and 57 died from cardiac failure. Neither thrombosis nor hemolysis was observed. At 18 years, freedom from embolism was 92 +/- 2%, from endocarditis 93 +/- 4%, from hemorrhage 95 +/- 2%, from reoperation 62 +/- 11%, from valve failure 68 +/- 12%, and from all complications 47 +/- 8%. Among patients aged >60 years, the 18-year actuarial freedom from reoperation was 76 +/- 14%, and from valve failure 85 +/- 8%. CONCLUSION: With a low rate of valve-related events at 18 years, and an especially low rate of structural failure, the Perimount pericardial prosthesis is a reliable choice for patients with aortic calcified stenosis.