Heart transplantation candidacy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Timely referral of eligible candidates for consideration of advanced therapies, such as a heart transplantation or mechanical circulatory support is essential. The characteristics of heart transplantation candidates have changed significantly over the years, leading to a more complex evaluation process. The present review summarizes recent advances in the evaluation process for heart transplantation eligibility. RECENT FINDINGS: The heart transplantation allocation policy was recently reviewed in the USA in an effort to reduce waitlist mortality and to ensure fair geographic allocation of organs to the sickest patients. Moreover, patients with chronic infectious diseases, as well as malignancies, are being currently considered acceptable candidates for transplantation. Listing practices for heart transplantation vary between programmes, with a greater willingness to consider high-risk candidates at higher-volume centres. SUMMARY: The ultimate decision to place high-risk candidates on the heart transplantation waitlist should be based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative data analysis informed by clinical judgement, and the chronic shortage of organ donors makes this process an important ethical concern for any society. Future guidelines should discuss approaches to achieve fair organ allocation while preserving improved outcomes after transplantation.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of delayed coronary artery access for coronary angiography with or without percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and severe aortic valve stenosis frequently coexist. Given the progressive nature of CAD, silent or non-significant CAD may become symptomatic or functionally relevant years after TAVR. However, there is a paucity of data documenting the feasibility of either coronary angiography and/or PCI after TAVR. We systematically searched Medline, Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane database, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, and conference abstracts from conception to March 2020 using OvidSP in TAVR patients undergoing coronary angiography with or without PCI at least 6 months after TAVR. Patients and procedural characteristics were summarized. The primary outcome of interest was successful coronary angiography for either the left main coronary artery (LMCA) or right coronary artery (RCA) with or without PCI. Pooled estimates were calculated using a random-effects meta-analysis. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO. Eleven reports for a total of 696 coronary angiograms and 287 PCI were included in the analysis. Patients were slightly predominantly male, older and had a mean left ventricular ejection fraction of more than 50% with an intermediate STS. The summary estimate rates of successful LMCA and RCA angiography with a Medtronic self-expandable valve (SEV) were 84% (95% CI 73-90%, I2 = 79, p = 0.015) and 69% (95% CI 37-89%, I2 = 86, p = 0.23), respectively, while with the Edwards Lifesciences balloon expandable valve (BEV), the summary estimate rates for successful LMCA and RCA angiography were 94% (95% CI 72-99%, I2 = 66, p = 0.003) and 95% (95% CI 48-99%, I2 = 83, p = 0.05), respectively. The summary estimate rate of successful PCI post TAVR with either a Medtronic SEV or Edwards Lifesciences BEV was 93% (95% CI 86-96%, I2 = 33, p = 0.0001). The overall achievement of a successful coronary angiography with or without PCI in post-TAVR patients is high, with a lower success rate for RCA angiography in patients with the Medtronic SEV Mortality and bleeding did not differ in our analysis.

Long-term Survival Following Heart Transplantation for Chagas Versus Non-Chagas Cardiomyopathy: A Single-center Experience in Northeastern Brazil Over 2 Decades.

Data on post-heart transplant (HT) survival of patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC) are scarce. We sought to evaluate post-HT survival in patients with CC as compared with other causes of heart failure across different eras of HT. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, cohort study of 376 adult HT recipients between October 1997 and November 2019. Participants were classified according to the etiology of heart failure as CC (N = 66), nonischemic cardiomyopathy (N = 214), and ischemic cardiomyopathy (N = 96), and according to the era of HT as early (1997-2009), recent (2010-2014), and current era (2015-2019). Results: After a mean follow-up of 5.0 y (0-20.5 y), post-HT survival rates at 1, 5, and 10 y were comparable between groups. One-y survival improved from 70% in the early eras to 80% in the current era (hazard ratio [HR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-0.97; P = 0.034). After adjustment for sex, age, and mechanical circulatory support, time-related improvement in survival was observed only in patients without CC (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.32-0.91; P = 0.019) but not in those with CC (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.36-2.73; P = 0.98). Causes of death were similar between patients with CC and the other etiological subgroups. Conclusions: Posttransplant survival is comparable between patients with CC, nonischemic cardiomyopathy, and ischemic cardiomyopathy. Although survival has improved significantly over years for most HT recipients, it has remained unchanged for those with Chagas disease. These trends underscore the importance of scientific research, policy discussions and a collaborative registry of heart transplantation in Chagas cardiomyopathy.

Mechanical circulatory support devices in advanced heart failure: 2020 and beyond.

Substantial progress in the field of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) has expanded the treatment options for patients with advanced-stage heart failure (HF). Currently available MCS devices can be implanted percutaneously or surgically. They can also be configured to support the left, right, or both ventricles, offering varying levels of circulatory support. Short-term temporary MCS devices are primarily used in high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention, cardiogenic shock, and post-cardiac arrest, while durable left ventricular assist systems (LVAS) are increasingly utilized either as a bridge-to-transplant, bridge to decision, or as a destination therapy. The evolution from older pulsatile devices to continuous-flow LVAS and the incorporation of smaller pumps, with no valves, fewer moving parts, and improved hemocompatibility has translated into improved clinical outcomes, greater durability, fewer adverse events, and reduced overall cost of care. However, despite marked advances in device design and clinical management, determining MCS candidacy is often difficult and requires the integration of clinical, biomarker, imaging, exercise, and hemodynamic data. This review aims to provide a summary of the current use of short-term and durable MCS devices in the treatment of advanced-stage HF, highlighting several aspects of LVAS support and the challenges that remain.

Cocaine use in organ donors and long-term outcome after heart transplantation: An International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation registry analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac allografts from donors with a history of cocaine use (DHCU) are often discarded owing to concerns regarding organ quality. We investigated long-term outcomes of de novo adult heart transplantation (HTx) using DHCU. METHODS: Using the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Thoracic Organ Transplant Registry, we identified 24,430 adult recipients of primary, deceased donor, heart-alone transplants between January 1, 2000, and June 30, 2013. Transplants were categorized on the basis of DHCU. Survival rates were compared using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests. RESULTS: A total of 3,246 (13.3%) HTx were performed using DHCU during the study period. Of these, 1,477 (45.5%) were classified as current users. Organs from DHCU were transplanted at a later sequence number (data from a sub-group of patients transplanted in the United States) than those from the non-cocaine use group (mean sequence number 16.1 ± 55.6 vs 11.5 ± 38.2; p < 0.001), suggesting higher decline rates by centers. Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival were not different between groups (p = 0.16), with post-transplant survival rates at 1, 5, and 10 years of 88.1%, 75.8%, and 58.5%, respectively, in the non-cocaine use group and 90.0%, 76.7%, and 59.7%, respectively, in the DHCU group. On multivariate analysis, DHCU were not associated with mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.88-1.00; p = 0.050), cardiac allograft vasculopathy (HR: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.94-1.11; p = 0.56), or allograft rejection (HR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.92-1.05; p = 0.61). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that adult HTx performed using DHCU is not associated with an adverse impact on long-term clinical outcomes. These findings should spur efforts to reduce discard rates of organs from DHCU.

The impact of statin therapy on neurological events following left ventricular assist system implantation in advanced heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death in advanced heart failure patients supported with a continuous-flow left ventricular assist system (CF-LVAS). Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) reduce the risk of major cardiovascular and neurological events such as stroke, but their impact has not been evaluated in patients implanted with a CF-LVAS. We sought to explore the association between use of statin therapy and subsequent occurrence of neurological events, particularly stroke, following CF-LVAS implantation. METHODS: We performed a single center, retrospective, observational cohort study in 200 consecutive adults implanted with a durable CF-LVAS over a 10-year period (2008-2018). We compared patients according to statin use following pump implantation, stratified by an exploratory analysis of pump type (HeartMate II, HeartWare HVAD, and HeartMate 3 [HM3] LVAS). RESULTS: Overall, 24% of CF-LVAS recipients developed at least 1 neurological event, at a rate of 0.11 events per patient-year (EPPY) among those prescribed statins and 0.22 EPPY among non-users (age-adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI],0.24-0.88; p = 0.019). In the cohort without the HM3 pump, ischemic strokes were 62% lower among statin users (0.05 versus 0.12 EPPY for non-users; age-adjusted HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.15-0.99; p = 0.048). The risk of ischemic stroke did not differ significantly when HM3 recipients were included in the analysis (age-adjusted HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.22-1.21; p = 0.13). However, ischemic stroke rate in HM3 LVAS recipients was similar to the rate in statin users who received a non-HM3 LVAS (0.06 and 0.05 EPPY, respectively). Rates of hemorrhagic stroke and other safety end points were not significantly different according to statin use. CONCLUSION: Statin prescription following CF-LVAS is associated with lower rates of neurological events, driven predominantly by a reduction in ischemic strokes. These findings suggest that most patients with a pre-existing indication for statin therapy may continue using statins following CF-LVAS in an effort to decrease the incidence of ischemic stroke.

Effects of reducing exposure to air pollution on submaximal cardiopulmonary test in patients with heart failure: Analysis of the randomized, double-blind and controlled FILTER-HF trial.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution exposure could mitigate the health benefits of exercise in patients with heart failure (HF). We tested the effects of a respiratory filter on HF patients exposed to air pollution during exercise. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ancillary analysis of the FILTER-HF trial, focused on the exercise outcomes. In a randomized, double-blind, 3-way crossover design, 26 HF patients and 15 control volunteers were exposed to clean air, unfiltered dilute diesel engine exhaust (DE), or filtered DE for 6min during a submaximal cardiopulmonary testing in a controlled-exposure facility. Prospectively collected data included six-minute walking test [6mwt], VO2, VE/VCO2 Slope, O2Pulse, pulmonary ventilation [VE], tidal volume, VD/Vt, oxyhemoglobin saturation and CO2-rebreathing. Compared to clean air, DE adversely affected VO2 (11.0±3.9 vs. 8.4±2.8ml/kg/min; p<0.001); 6mwt (243.3±13.0 vs. 220.8±13.7m; p=0.030); and O2Pulse (8.9±1.0 vs. 7.8±0.7ml/beat; p<0.001) in HF patients. Compared to DE, filtration reduced the particulate concentration from 325±31 to 25±6µg/m(3), and was associated with an increase in VO2 (10.4±3.8ml/kg/min; p<0.001 vs. DE) and O2Pulse (9.7±1.1ml/beat; p<0.001 vs. DE) in patients with HF. Filtration was associated with higher VE and CO2-rebreathing in both groups. VE/VCO2 Slope was higher among patients with HF. CONCLUSION: DE adversely affects exercise capacity in patients with HF. A simple respiratory filter can reduce the adverse effects of pollution on VO2 and O2Pulse. Given the worldwide prevalence of exposure to traffic-related air pollution, these findings are relevant for public health especially in this highly susceptible population. The filter intervention holds great promise that needs to be tested in future studies.

Respiratory Filter Reduces the Cardiovascular Effects Associated With Diesel Exhaust Exposure: A Randomized, Prospective, Double-Blind, Controlled Study of Heart Failure: The FILTER-HF Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to test the effects of a respiratory filter intervention (filter) during controlled pollution exposure. BACKGROUND: Air pollution is considered a risk factor for heart failure (HF) decompensation and mortality. METHODS: This study was a double-blind, randomized to order, controlled, 3-way crossover, single-center clinical trial. It enrolled 26 patients with HF and 15 control volunteers. Participants were exposed in 3 separate sessions to clean air, unfiltered diesel exhaust exposure (DE), or filtered DE. Endpoints were endothelial function assessed by using the reactive hyperemia index (RHi), arterial stiffness, serum biomarkers, 6-min walking distance, and heart rate variability. RESULTS: In patients with HF, DE was associated with a worsening in RHi from 2.17 (interquartile range [IQR]: 1.8 to 2.5) to 1.72 (IQR: 1.5 to 2.2; p = 0.002) and an increase in B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) from 47.0 pg/ml (IQR: 17.3 to 118.0 pg/ml) to 66.5 pg/ml (IQR: 26.5 to 155.5 pg/ml; p = 0.004). Filtration reduced the particulate concentration (325 ± 31 µg/m(3) vs. 25 ± 6 µg/m(3); p < 0.001); in the group with HF, filter was associated with an improvement in RHi from 1.72 (IQR: 1.5 to 2.2) to 2.06 (IQR: 1.5 to 2.6; p = 0.019) and a decrease in BNP from 66.5 pg/ml (IQR: 26.5 to 155.5 pg/ml) to 44.0 pg/ml (IQR: 20.0 to 110.0 pg/ml; p = 0.015) compared with DE. In both groups, DE decreased the 6-min walking distance and arterial stiffness, although filter did not change these responses. DE had no effect on heart rate variability or exercise testing. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this trial is the first to show that a filter can reduce both endothelial dysfunction and BNP increases in patients with HF during DE. Given these potential benefits, the widespread use of filters in patients with HF exposed to traffic-derived air pollution may have beneficial public health effects and reduce the burden of HF. (Effects of Air Pollution Exposure Reduction by Filter Mask on Heart Failure; NCT01960920).