Resultados del retrasplante cardiaco: subanálisis del Registro Español de Trasplante Cardiaco / Results of heart retransplantation: subanalysis of the Spanish Heart Transplant Registry

Introducción y objetivos: El retrasplante cardiaco (ReTC) representa un tema controvertido actualmente. Nuestro objetivo es describir y analizar los resultados del ReTC en España. Métodos: Análisis retrospectivo del Registro Español de Trasplante Cardiaco de 1984 a 2018. Se recogieron datos sobre donante, receptor, cirugía, inmunosupresión y supervivencia. La mortalidad por todas las causas o la necesidad de ReTC postrasplante fueron el objetivo principal. Se estudiaron diferencias en supervivencia según indicación, tiempo entre trasplantes y época del ReTC. Resultados: Se estudiaron en total 7.592 trasplantes cardiacos (TxC) y 173 (2,3%) ReTC (mediana de edad, 52,0 y 55,0 años respectivamente). La enfermedad vascular del injerto fue la indicación de ReTC más frecuente (42,2%) y 59 pacientes (80,8%) recibieron el ReTC más de 5 años después del trasplante inicial. El rechazo agudo y el fallo primario del injerto disminuyeron como indicaciones durante el periodo estudiado. La insuficiencia renal, la hipertensión, la necesidad de ventilación mecánica o balón intraaórtico y la mayor duración de la isquemia fría fueron más frecuentes en el ReTC. La mediana de seguimiento del ReTC fue 5,8 años. El ReTC tuvo peor supervivencia que el TxC (HR ponderado=1,43; IC95%, 1,17-1,44; p<0,001). El rechazo agudo (HR=2,49; IC95%, 1,45-4,27; p<0,001) se relacionó con el peor resultado. El ReTC más allá de 5 años del trasplante inicial presagia resultados similares a los del TxC primario (HR ponderado=1,14; IC95%, 0,86-1,50; p<0,001). Conclusiones: El ReTC se asoció con mayor mortalidad que el TxC, especialmente por rechazo agudo. El pronóstico del ReTC realizado más de 5 años después es similar al del TxC primario (AU)

Introduction and objectives: Heart retransplantation (ReHT) is controversial in the current era. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the results of ReHT in Spain. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis from the Spanish Heart Transplant Registry from 1984 to 2018. Data were collected on donors, recipients, surgical procedure characteristics, immunosuppression, and survival. The main outcome was posttransplant all-cause mortality or need for ReHT. We studied differences in survival according to indication for ReHT, the time interval between transplants and era of ReHT. Results: A total of 7592 heart transplants (HT) and 173 (2.3%) ReHT were studied (median age, 52.0 and 55.0 years, respectively). Cardiac allograft vasculopathy was the most frequent indication for ReHT (42.2%) and 59 patients (80.8%) received ReHT >5 years after the initial transplant. Acute rejection and primary graft failure decreased as indications over the study period. Renal dysfunction, hypertension, need for mechanical ventilation or intra-aortic balloon pump and longer cold ischemia time were more frequent in ReHT. Median follow-up for ReHT was 5.8 years. ReHT had worse survival than HT (weighted HR, 1.43; 95%CI, 1.17-1.44; P<.001). The indication of acute rejection (HR, 2.49; 95%CI, 1.45-4.27; P<.001) was related to the worst outcome. ReHT beyond 5 years after initial HT portended similar results as primary HT (weighted HR, 1.14; 95%CI, 0.86-1.50; P<.001). Conclusions: ReHT was associated with higher mortality than HT, especially when indicated for acute rejection. ReHT beyond 5 years had a similar prognosis to primary HT (AU)

Prognostic Value of Blood Panel Parameters in Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Advanced Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and left ventricular dysfunction have a varied clinical course, not only dependent on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and symptoms. Finding prognostic markers for stratification in these 2 conditions is a critical area of research. Our aim was determine the prognostic value of blood panel basic parameters. METHODS: We analyzed all patients with idiopathic or familial DCM and LVEF <30% coming to our heart failure unit for evaluation for non-urgent heart transplant during the period of 2009 to 2011. With 5 years of follow-up data, we could study the prognostic value of blood panel parameters. Moreover, we determined the combination of platelet count and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio score from the BIOSTAT-CHF study. RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients were included in the study. After 5 years follow-up, 49 patients (57%) remain alive (group A) and 38 (43%) either died or needed a heart transplant. There were no differences between groups with regard to age or sex. Patients with good progress showed a lower red cell distribution width (RDW), a higher lymphocyte count, and a lower neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in the initial blood panel. An RDW ≥15% was associated with long-term mortality or heart transplant. CONCLUSION: A basic blood panel could be a useful tool in assessing patients with heart failure. Larger studies are necessary to confirm our findings. A multimarker strategy could also be useful for stratification of patients with advanced heart failure.

Preoperative Cardiac Assessment of Patients Undergoing Orthotopic Liver Transplantation: Experience in One Center.

Preoperative cardiac evaluation of patients undergoing liver transplantation is not well established. Stress testing is used in many centers, and clinical guidelines suggest its use. However, the specificity and sensibility of stress echocardiography to predict coronary lesions have been very low in some studies. Moreover, it has a low positive predictive value to predict complications after liver transplantation. We retrospectively analyzed 143 patients who underwent liver transplantation in our center and report our experience in the use of stress echocardiography. We describe cardiac complications during and after liver transplantation. Low prevalence of ischemic heart disease in asymptomatic patients undergoing liver transplantation make stress testing useless in risk stratification because it has a low positive predictive value. So the risk stratification of these patients before liver transplant surgery remains a challenge.

Medication adherence in patients who undergo cardiac transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Heart transplant patients are required to take medication for life, both immunosuppressants to prevent rejection and any required for other illnesses. Treatment compliance can be measured quantitatively or qualitatively. Compliance measurement is not easy owing to different factors. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of therapeutic compliance in heart transplant patients. METHODS: We undertook a cross-sectional observational descriptive study. The sample comprised patients who received a heart transplant from 2001 to 2011. Of the 203 patients in total, we studied 99. We used the Morisky-Green test as an indirect method and recorded the immunosuppressant blood levels as a direct method. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 50 ± 12 years, and 84% were male. According to the Morisky-Green test, 33% of the patients were noncompliant, of whom 30% said they rarely forgot to take their medication. Patients took an average of 8 ± 3 drugs per day, but only 85% knew what the drugs were for; 24% of the patients had grade 3A rejection, and 65% had graft vessel disease. CONCLUSIONS: Transplanted patients in this study showed a high level of therapeutic adherence that did not differ from other transplant series, either cardiac or other organs, nor from other chronic diseases. The results for defaulters were higher than that expected from these patients. The defaulter results were expected to be lower, given the information that the patients were supposed to have, both before and after the transplantation, and with the strict medical monitoring. Therefore, we have to stress therapeutic compliance, both medical and dietary-hygiene measures, and seek new strategies to improve the results.

Severe heart failure due to noncompaction cardiomyopathy: a case report.

Noncompaction cardiomyopathy involves an infrequent pathology whose diagnosis has been rising in recent years owing to a better understanding of the disease and, therefore, better diagnosis. Today, there are no well established protocols for its treatment. For this reason, it is necessary to adapt the therapy of choice to each patient. We report the case of a 35-year-old man with no past medical history of interest who was admitted due to acute pulmonary edema. Diagnostic tests revealed noncompaction cardiomyopathy with biventricular severe systolic dysfunction. In this situation, heart transplantation was considered to be the best therapeutic option, which was carried out with an uneventful postoperative course. This is one of the few cases reported in the literature for this issue.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator for primary prevention in patients with severe ventricular dysfunction awaiting heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Despite an increase in patients with end-stage heart failure, the acceptance rate has been going down in recent years owing to a change in donor demographics. Furthermore, the rate of emergency heart transplantation has progressively increased. The result is an increase in the time awaiting heart transplantation in elective patients and therefore in the risk of sudden death in this population. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) could be a preventive option in these cases. However, indications for the implantation in this population are not well established. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of ICDs for primary prevention in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 30% included on the heart transplantation list. METHODS: Records from patients accepted for heart transplantation in our institution from January 1, 2006, to July 30, 2012, and whose LVEF was <31% were reviewed. Patients who received ICDs for primary prevention (n = 28) were compared with patients without ICDs (n = 51). Descriptive and univariate (χ(2) and t tests) statistics and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used for analyses. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 77 days (range 1-1,231), the overall mortality in the ICD group was 7.1% (2/28) and in the non-ICD group was 17.6% (9/51; P = .062). The main cause of death in patients without ICDs was sudden death (5/9, 55.6%), followed by heart failure (4/9, 44.4%). In patients with ICDs, heart failure was the only reported cause of death. Appropriate ICD therapies were recorded in 42.9% (12/28) in this population. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that ICD could reduce the risk of sudden death in patients with LVEF ≤ 30% while awaiting heart transplantation. However, more studies are needed to confirm these results.

Manual para la elaboración de documentos basados en la evidencia. Herramientas derivadas del conocimiento científico / Handbook for the preparation of evidence-based documents. Tools derived from scientific knowledge

Objetivo. El manual pretende ser una guía, accesible y fácil de consultar, que oriente a los profesionales en la elaboración o adaptación de documentos basados en la evidencia que ayuden a la estandarización de la práctica clínica y a la toma de decisiones velando siempre por la calidad de la misma de forma que siga unos referentes establecidos. Material y métodos. La Comisión de Atención Sanitaria Basada en la Evidencia (CASBE), perteneciente a la estructura de calidad del Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, propuso elaborar un manual para la elaboración de documentos basados en la evidencia que incorpore la relación de productos, la descripción de sus características, atributos, utilidad, metodología de elaboración y ámbito de aplicación de cada uno de ellos. Resultados. El manual contiene 7 herramientas basadas en la evidencia, un capítulo sobre metodología de análisis crítico de la literatura científica, un capítulo con recursos en Internet y anexos con herramientas de evaluación. Conclusiones. Este manual ofrece grandes oportunidades para la mejora de la calidad a los clínicos como guía de estandarización de la práctica asistencial, a los gestores como estrategia para promover y fomentar la elaboración de documentos que ayuden a reducir la variabilidad de la práctica clínica y a los pacientes la oportunidad de participar en la planificación de sus cuidados(AU)

Objectives. This handbook is intended to be an accessible, easy-to-consult guide to help professionals produce or adapt Evidence-Based Documents. Such documents will help standardize both clinical practice and decision-making, the quality always being monitored in such a way that established references are complied with. Materials and methods. Evidence-Based Health Care Committee, a member of “Virgen del Rocío” University Hospital quality structure, proposed the preparation of a handbook to produce Evidence-Based Documents including: a description of products, characteristics, qualities, uses, methodology of production, and application scope of every one of them. Results. The handbook consists of seven Evidence-Based tools, one chapter on critical analysis methodology of scientific literature, one chapter with internet resources, and some appendices with different assessment tools. Conclusions. This Handbook provides general practitioners with a great opportunity to improve quality and as a guideline to standardize clinical healthcare, and managers with a strategy to promote and encourage the development of documents in an effort to reduce clinical practice variability, as well as giving patients the opportunity of taking part in planning their own care(AU)

[Handbook for the preparation of evidence-based documents. Tools derived from scientific knowledge]. / Manual para la elaboración de documentos basados en la evidencia. Herramientas derivadas del conocimiento científico.

OBJECTIVES: This handbook is intended to be an accessible, easy-to-consult guide to help professionals produce or adapt Evidence-Based Documents. Such documents will help standardize both clinical practice and decision-making, the quality always being monitored in such a way that established references are complied with. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Evidence-Based Health Care Committee, a member of "Virgen del Rocío" University Hospital quality structure, proposed the preparation of a handbook to produce Evidence-Based Documents including: a description of products, characteristics, qualities, uses, methodology of production, and application scope of every one of them. RESULTS: The handbook consists of seven Evidence-Based tools, one chapter on critical analysis methodology of scientific literature, one chapter with internet resources, and some appendices with different assessment tools. CONCLUSIONS: This Handbook provides general practitioners with a great opportunity to improve quality and as a guideline to standardize clinical healthcare, and managers with a strategy to promote and encourage the development of documents in an effort to reduce clinical practice variability, as well as giving patients the opportunity of taking part in planning their own care.

Impact of overweight on survival and primary graft failure after heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Overweight influence on prognosis after heart transplantation remains controversial. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between overweight and survival in this setting. METHODS: We evaluated 271 cardiac transplant recipients engrafted from 1991 to 2009 whose age was 50.3±12.1 (mean; SD) years. Their body mass index (BMI) was 25.7±3.9 kg/m2. Regarding gender, 85.2% were males. Patients were classified by pretransplantation BMI into group A (>25 kg/m2) and group B (<25 kg/m2). We analyzed the differences in mortality and related factors. RESULTS: One hundred fifty Group A patients (55.4%) showed a slightly lower median survival (7.35 vs 8.62 years; P=.152). Group A patients were at higher risk of death within 1 year of follow-up (HR, 1.71; confidence interval [CI], 0.996-2.939; P=.051). Overweight was associated with increased mortality at 1 year after adjustment for age, recipient gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, coronary artery disease, and donor-recipient heart size mismatch. The incidence of primary graft failure was also significantly increased in group A (HR, 2.74; CI, 1.17-6.40; P=.017) after adjustment for the same variables. There were no significant differences between the groups concerning surgical ischemic time, number of acute rejection episodes, and infections during the first year. CONCLUSION: In our sample, overweight was associated with increased mortality and an increased incidence of primary graft failure within 1 year after cardiac transplantation.

Correlation of echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters in pulmonary hypertension assessment prior to heart transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Invasive assessment of pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), via right heart catheterization, is part of the usual protocol prior to heart transplantation. Echocardiography is considered a valuable technique to evaluate PAP. We sought to determine the reliability of measurements of PAP via a noninvasive technique, echocardiography, in relation to the estimated PAP via right catheterization. We also determined its safety when invasive procedures are restricted to just patients with pulmonary hypertension (PHT) according to echocardiographic parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 67 right catheterizations performed in our hospital, within the heart transplant study protocol, from January 2000 to December 2006. PAP parameters were estimated by echocardiography and right catheterization. RESULTS: Hemodynamically, 57.1% of the patients had severe PHT (more than 45 mm Hg mean PAP); 13.2% moderate PHT (between 35 and 45 mm Hg mean PAP); 12.1% had mild PHT (between 25 and 35 mm Hg mean PAP); and 17.6% of patients showed no PHT. Pearson correlation index with systolic PAP (estimated via echocardiography) and mean PAP (calculated via invasive method) was 0.69 (P < .001). PHT was considered significant when systolic PAP estimated via echocardiography reached more than 40 mm Hg and mean PAP estimated via right catheterization reached more than 35 mm Hg, the value from which the vasodilator test was carried out. According to these parameters, echocardiography showed a sensitivity of 89% to diagnose significant PHT and 46% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values of 70% and 76%, respectively.

Prognosis after heart transplant in patients with pulmonary hypertension secondary to cardiopathy.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is associated with greater posttransplant mortality. In the last few years, many vasodilator drugs have been developed and some patients have therefore been transplanted. However, conflicting data exist regarding the impact of reversible PHT on posttransplant outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the evolution of our transplanted patients with reactive PHT and the causes of right cardiac insufficiency and perioperative mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 39 consecutive heart transplant recipients from January 2005 to December 2006. We analyzed significant pretransplant PHT, the percentage of emergency transplants, surgical technique, as well as ischemia and extracorporeal circulation times. RESULTS: Before transplantation, significant PHT was present in 12 patients (30.8%), all of whom had a positive acute vasoreactivity test or response to oral treatment with pulmonary vasodilators. A nonsignificant tendency to increased posttransplant mortality was observed among patients with pretransplant PHT. We observed a significant increase in mortality in patients with prolonged operative times, over the third percentile, odds ratio (OR) for ECC of 21% (P = .001) and OR for prolonged ischemia time of 9.5% (P = .022). However, mortality did not increase significantly in cases of emergent transplantation (P = .08) or in the use of the Shumway bicaval surgical technique (P = .9). CONCLUSIONS: There seemed to be a slight tendency to increased mortality among patients with reversible HTP, suggesting that high-risk patients need closer monitoring but are not absolutely contraindicated for transplantation.

Preliminary experience with conversion from calcineurin inhibitors to everolimus in cardiac transplantation maintenance therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Everolimus has been prescribed both for initial and maintenance therapy after cardiac transplantation. Herein, we present our initial experience with everolimus as maintenance therapy after cardiac transplantation. METHODS: We retrospectively included all of our patients in whom therapy was changed from calcineurin inhibitors to everolimus between September 2006 and October 2007. We analyzed their baseline clinical characteristics, indications for conversion to everolimus therapy, and beneficial vs adverse effects of the maneuver. RESULTS: In 16 heart transplant recipients, therapy was changed to everolimus because of allograft vasculopathy (n = 8), renal failure (n = 4), or sirolimus toxicity (n = 4). Treatment with everolimus was initiated at a mean (SD) of 79.8 (52.7) months (range, 10-163 mo) after transplantation. The initial dose was 1.4 (0.2) mg (range, 1.0-1.5 mg), and the maintenance dose was 1 (0.31) mg (range, 0.5-1.5 mg). Follow-up was 7.28 (3.22) months (range, 0.5-13 mo). Observed side effects included hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, and edema. Only 1 of 4 patients included because of sirolimus intolerance did not tolerate everolimus; renal dysfunction did not worsen in any of these 4 patients. No allograft vasculopathy was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Renal function seem to stabilize after conversion to everolimus therapy in patients with previous progressive dysfunction. The safety profile was proved in all patients, although conclusions cannot be established about the evolution of allograft vasculopathy.

Incidence and importance of de novo diabetes mellitus after heart transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus is one of the main metabolic complications after heart transplantation. The aims of our study were to determine the incidence and factors that determine the appearance of posttransplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) and its prognostic value. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of all heart transplant recipients in our hospital from January 1993 to December 2005, including 116 patients with prolonged monitoring with 59-month median follow-up. We divided the patients into two groups, according to whether they had de novo diabetes (group 1) or no diabetes (group 2). RESULTS: Patients with PTDM were significantly older, with a median difference (MD) of 5.4 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53-9.28) and a greater body mass index (MD, 3.37 kg/m(2); 95% CI, 1.68-5.06). Moreover, a greater percentage of patients in group 1 had ischemia compared to other etiologies. However, no significant differences were observed regarding other cardiovascular risk factors. PTDM was associated with a greater incidence of posttransplant hypertension (51.6% in group 1 vs 48.4% in group 2, P = .08) and posttransplant renal failure (59.5% in group 1 vs 40.5% in group 2, P = .001). However, no differences were observed in overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Age, overweight, and ischemic origin of cardiopathy were the main risk factors for the development of PTDM in our population. Although no differences were observed in survival rates, PTDM was associated with a greater incidence of hypertension and renal insufficiency, which may have long-term influences on patient survival.

Safety and efficacy of ezetimibe in a sample of cardiac transplant patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ezetimibe in a sample of transplanted cardiac patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We undertook a descriptive retrospective observational study of 19 transplanted cardiac patients in whom treatment with ezetimibe was initiated at doses of 10 mg/d between 2004 and 2006, assessing tolerability and changes in lipid levels (total cholesterol and triglycerides), doses of immunosuppressive drugs, and the hepatic profile after 12 months of treatment. RESULTS: There was no effect on the doses required of any immunosuppressive drugs. We observed a reduction in cholesterol levels, with a normal distribution (mean +/- standard deviation 26.84 +/- 14 mg/dL) among patients with ezetimibe addition, despite no change in the statin doses. There were no changes in the levels of triglycerides, transaminases, or bilirubin, and no cases of rhabdomyolysis or myalgia. All patients continued to take the drug after 1 year of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In our sample, the administration of ezetimibe to transplanted cardiac patients for 1 year was associated with a reduction in cholesterol levels by 26.8%. No substantial changes in the doses of immunosuppressive drugs could be attributed to the use of ezetimibe. Tolerance was good, with no need for drug withdrawal in any case.

Tamponade as the clinical onset of a cardiac angiosarcoma.

Primary tumors of the heart are usually benign, with the malignant forms being rare. In this article we report the case of an angiosarcoma with the only manifestation being a cardiac tamponade. When the patient being admitted to the hospital, an important differential diagnosis was pulmonary tumor. A mass in the right atrium was later detected in the echocardiogram. Further image studies, such as MRI, showed spectacular images of this mass suggestive of neoplasm. An intra-operatory biopsy diagnosed the mass as an angiosarcoma. Since there was no evidence of primary neoplasm in other studies carried out, the neoformation was diagnosed as a primary angiosarcoma. Surgery was carried out with a survival of only 13 months after the procedure. We also use this case to make a brief review of the primary tumors of the heart, especially angiosarcomas.

[Benign atheroembolic syndrome secondary to systemic fibrinolysis with streptokinase]. / Síndrome ateroembólico de curso benigno secundario a fibrinólisis sistémica con estreptoquinasa.

We present the case of an 60-year-old male patient that after a acute myocardial infarction inferior diagnostic was subjected to a fibrinolysis with streptokinase. The evolution from the cardiologic point of view was favourable, but at fourth day postacute myocardial infartion he starts with peripherics vasculars symptoms, pain and livedo reticularis in lower part of the body. A symptomatic treatment was made requiring amputation of his fifth right toe. The evolution was towards healing without any organic afectation at another level.

[Cervical aortic arch associated with cardiopathy]. / Arco aórtico cervical con cardiopatía asociada.

We report five children affected with cervical aortic arch associated with tetralogy of Fallot (2), pulmonary atresia with interventricular septal defect (2) and pulmonary branch stenosis (1). Their ages were between one day and three months when they were diagnosed. With regard to one patient, the diagnosis was clinically suspected before catheterism. In four patients it was an angiographic finding since they didn't present the clinical signs when they underwent catheterism. One of these four patients showed such signs later. Only two cases can be inserted in Haughton classification; the other three can be included in the "unclassified group". Children's present clinical conditions are independent from this very rare anomaly and they depend on the associated heart malformations.