Expanding Horizons in Cardiac Transplant: Efficacy and Outcomes of Circulatory and Brain Death Donor Hearts in a Newly Implemented Cardiac Transplant Program with Limited Donor Accessibility and a Literature Review.

(1) Background: Cardiac donation after circulatory death (DCD) is an emerging paradigm in organ transplantation. However, this technique is recent and has only been implemented by highly experienced centers. This study compares the characteristics and outcomes of thoraco-abdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TANRP) and static cold-storage DCD and traditional donation after brain death (DBD) cardiac transplants (CT) in a newly stablished transplant program with restricted donor availability. (2) Method: We performed a retrospective, single-center study of all adult patients who underwent a CT between November 2019 and December 2023, with a follow-up conducted until August 2024. Data were retrieved from medical records. A review of the current literature on DCD CT was conducted to provide a broader context for our findings. The primary outcome was survival at 6 months after transplantation. (3) Results: During the study period, 76 adults (median age 56 years [IQR: 50-63 years]) underwent CT, and 12 (16%) were DCD donors. DCD donors had a similar age (46 vs. 47 years, p = 0.727), were mostly male (92%), and one patient had left ventricular dysfunction during the intraoperative DCD process. There were no significant differences in recipients' characteristics. Survival was similar in the DCD group compared to DBD at 6 months (100 vs. 94%) and 12 months post-CT survival (92% vs. 94%), p = 0.82. There was no primary graft dysfunction in the DCD group (9% in DBD, p = 0.581). The median total hospital stay was longer in the DCD group (46 vs. 21 days, p = 0.021). An increase of 150% in transplantation activity due to DCD was estimated. (4) Conclusions: In a new CT program that utilized older donors and included recipients with similar illnesses and comorbidities, comparable outcomes between DCD and DBD hearts were observed. DCD was rapidly incorporated into the transplant activity, demonstrating an expedited learning curve and significantly increasing the availability of donor hearts.

Anticoagulation and Antiplatelet Regimen in Cardiac Transplant. Clinical Characteristics, Outcomes, and Blood Product Transfusion.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the characteristics, clinical outcomes, and blood product transfusion (BPT) rates of patients undergoing cardiac transplant (CT) while receiving uninterrupted anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy. METHODS: A retrospective, single-center, and observational study of adult patients who underwent CT was performed. Patients were classified into four groups: (1) patients without anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy (control), (2) patients on antiplatelet therapy (AP), (3) patients on vitamin K antagonists (AVKs), and (4) patients on dabigatran (dabigatran). The primary endpoints were reoperation due to bleeding and perioperative BPT rates (packed red blood cells (PRBC), fresh frozen plasma, platelets). Secondary outcomes assessed included morbidity and mortality-related events. RESULTS: Of the 55 patients included, 6 (11%) received no therapy (control), 8 (15%) received antiplatelet therapy, 15 (27%) were on AVKs, and 26 (47%) were on dabigatran. There were no significant differences in the need for reoperation or other secondary morbidity-associated events. During surgery patients on dabigatran showed lower transfusion rates of PRBC (control 100%, AP 100%, AVKs 73%, dabigatran 50%, p = 0.011) and platelets (control 100%, AP 100%, AVKs 100%, dabigatran 69%, p = 0.019). The total intraoperative number of BPT was also the lowest in the dabigatran group (control 5.5 units, AP 5 units, AVKs 6 units, dabigatran 3 units; p = 0.038); receiving significantly less PRBC (control 2.5 units, AP 3 units, AVKs 2 units, dabigatran 0.5 units; p = 0.011). A Poisson multivariate analysis showed that only treatment on dabigatran reduces PRBC requirements during surgery, with an expected reduction of 64.5% (95% CI: 32.4%-81.4%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients listed for CT requiring anticoagulation due to nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, the use of dabigatran and its reversal with idarucizumab significantly reduces intraoperative BPT demand.

Silent challenge: Early kidney transplant failure and cardiomyopathy.

Differentiation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotypes is challenging but crucial for appropriate management. We report a case of myocardial oxalate deposition as an infrequent cause of infiltrative cardiomyopathy.

Flecainide Reduces Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Genotype RyR2-positive Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is an inherited disease characterized by polymorphic or bidirectional ventricular arrhythmias (VA) triggered by physical or emotional stress in young people with a structurally normal heart. Beta-blockers are the cornerstone of treatment, while flecainide has recently been incorporated into the therapeutic arsenal. The aim of this study was to report our experience with this drug. METHODS: The cohort included 174 genotype-positive CPVT-patients from 7 families. We collected data from patients who were receiving flecainide and analyzed the indications, adverse effects and dosage, clinical events, VA and arrhythmic window during exercise testing, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks during follow-up. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (10.4%) received flecainide; 17 patients in combination with beta-blockers, and 1 patient as monotherapy due to beta-blocker intolerance. None of the patients presented side effects. In 13 patients (72.2%) the indication was the persistence of exercise-induced VA and in 5 patients (27.7%) persistent ICD-shocks, despite on beta-blockers. After flecainide initiation, the exercise-induced VA quantitative score was reduced by more than 50% in 66.7% of the members of family 1 (32.76 ± 84.06 vs 74.38 ± 153.86; P = .018). The arrhythmic window was reduced (5.8 ± 11.9 bpm vs 19.69 ± 21.27 bpm; P = .007), and 4 of 5 patients with appropriate ICD shocks experienced no further shocks in the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In CPVT-patients flecainide reduces clinical events, exercise-induced VA, the arrhythmic window, and ICD shocks, with good tolerance.

[High prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in medical students in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Spain)]. / Elevada prevalencia de hipovitaminosis D en los estudiantes de medicina de Gran Canaria, Islas Canarias (España).

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency has been described in many diseases and indeed in the general population. However fewer reports have been published in young and healthy people. Vitamin D deficiency should not be found in medical students of the Canary Islands, because they have all the resources to avoid it. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in a population of medical students of both gender from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. METHODS: 103 medical students of both genders from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. They completed a questionnaire and a physical examination. Vitamin D (25- hydroxycholecalciferol [25-HCC]), parathyroid hormone, biochemical markers of bone remodeling and a general biochemical study were performed. Bone mineral density was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine and the proximal femur. Quantitative ultrasounds parameters were measured at the calcaneus. RESULTS: Only 38.8% of the students of Medicine (42.1% of males and 44.9% of females) have 25-HCC values higher than 30 ng/dl as widely recommended nowadays. Vitamin D deficiency (< 20 ng/ml) is observed in 32.6% and vitamin D insufficiency (< 30 ng/ml) in 28.6% of the students of Medicine in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. CONCLUSION: Although they have optimal conditions for having good levels of vitamin D, near two thirds of the medical students in the Canaries have low values of vitamin D.