Early pandemic in-hospital outcomes and mortality risk factors in COVID-19 solid organ transplant patients.

Background: Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients with COVID-19 have a higher risk of mortality than those without COVID-19. However, it is unclear how SOT patient outcomes compare to the general population without SOT who contract COVID-19. Methods: We used the National Inpatient Sample from January to December 2020 to investigate inpatient outcomes seen in SOT recipients after contracting COVID-19 compared to nontransplant patients. We identified our study sample using ICD-10 CM and excluded those <18 years of age and those with dual organ transplants. Inpatient outcomes were compared in SOT and non-SOT COVID cohorts, and we further evaluated predictors of mortality in the SOT with COVID population. Results: Out of the 1,416,445 COVID-19 admissions included in the study, 8315 (0.59%) were single SOT recipients. Our analysis that adjusted for multiple baseline characteristics and comorbidities demonstrated that COVID-19 in SOT patients was associated with higher rates of acute kidney injury (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.81-3.02, P < 0.01), lower rates of acute respiratory distress syndrome (aOR 0.68, 95% CI 0.54-0.85, P < 0.01), and similar rates of cardiac arrest, pulmonary embolism, circulatory shock, cerebrovascular events, and in-hospital mortality. Age >65 was associated with mortality in SOT patients. Conclusion: In this nationally representative sample, SOT patients presenting with COVID-19 experienced similar rates of mortality compared to those without SOT. SOT patients were more likely to develop acute kidney injury. Further research is needed to understand the complex relationship between transplant patient outcomes and COVID-19.

Surgical and Device Interventions in the Treatment of Chronic Thromboembolic Disease.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease (CTEPD) is characterized by unresolved clot burden in large pulmonary arteries, obstructive disease in smaller arteries, and increased downstream clot burden. This occurs in the setting of abnormal fibrinolysis or hematological disorders. Up to 50% of patients in some studies are unaware of a self-history of a deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Ultimately, they present with symptoms of pulmonary hypertension (PH), which can result in right heart failure (RHF). Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is curative, though many patients have prohibitive surgical risk or surgically inaccessible disease, warranting other interventions such as balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) and medical therapy. Rarely, other treatment options may be implemented. We focus this review on PEA and BPA, with an overview of the history of CTEPD and the evolution of these procedures. We will briefly discuss other treatment modalities.

Rapidly progressive pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure in a heart and kidney transplant recipient.

A 54-year-old man status post heart and kidney transplant presented with dyspnea. Imaging was consistent with lymphangitic carcinomatosis (LC), in the setting of biopsy proven adenocarcinoma. He developed pulmonary hypertension (PH) and died of right ventricular failure (RVF) 3 weeks later. Acute PH with radiographic features of LC in a high-risk patient warrants expedited malignancy investigation.

Vericiguat in Heart Failure with a Reduced Ejection Fraction: Patient Selection and Special Considerations.

With improvement in the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), several drug classes have been developed targeting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, the beta adrenergic system, and to a certain extent the nitric oxide pathway. Recently, the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors has resulted in a reduction in heart failure hospitalizations and cardiovascular death. As a result, SGLT-2 inhibitors are now the fourth drug class recommended as part of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for HFrEF. Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators, such as vericiguat, are a novel therapy targeting the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway with downstream effects including smooth muscle cell relaxation and a reduction in hypertrophy, inflammation, and fibrosis. The recently published VICTORIA trial has demonstrated a reduction in heart failure hospitalizations or cardiovascular death with vericiguat. Patients with a baseline N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) values <8000 pg/mL may identify a sub-group most likely to benefit with addition of vericiguat. The cumulative benefit of quadruple therapy with the addition of sGC stimulators remains unknown. We review the mechanism of action for sGC stimulators, clinical trial data, and their real-world application to HFrEF patients with consideration of quintuple therapy.

Transition from parenteral prostacyclins to selexipag: safety and feasibility in selected patients.

There are limited data regarding the feasibility of transitioning from intravenous prostacyclins to selexipag in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients. We present a case series of successful transitions from intravenous prostacyclins to selexipag in the majority of carefully selected five stable pulmonary arterial hypertension patients using a standardized protocol in the outpatient setting.