NT-proBNP for Predicting All-Cause Death and Heart Transplant in Children and Adults with Heart Failure.

Plasma N-terminal prohormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration is a heart failure (HF) biomarker in adults and children. Its prognostic value for HF-related events has been established only in adults. Therefore, we aimed to test the hypothesis that plasma NT-proBNP concentrations predicted the risk of heart transplantation or death in children with HF. We studied the medical records of 109 children with HF enrolled in the IBM Watson Explorys database and from 150 children enrolled in the Pediatric Cardiomyopathy Registry (PCMR). Nonlinear regression was used to assess the relationship between plasma NT-proBNP concentrations and the risk of events in the two cohorts. All children in the PCMR cohort had dilated cardiomyopathy. The Explorys cohort also included children with congenital cardiovascular malformations. Median plasma NT-proBNP concentrations were 1250 pg/mL and 184 pg/mL in the Explorys and PCMR cohorts, respectively. The percentage of deaths/heart transplantations was 7%/22%, over 2 years in the Explorys cohort and 3%/16% over 5 years in the PCMR cohort. Mean estimates of plasma NT-proBNP concentration indicative of half-maximum relative risk for events (EC50 values) at 2 and 5 years were 3730 pg/mL and 4199 pg/mL, respectively, values both close to the mean of 3880 pg/mL established for adults with HF. The plasma NT-proBNP concentration is suitable for estimating relative risk of mortality and heart transplantation in children with HF, independent of etiology and shows similar relations to clinical outcomes as in adults, indicating its likely value as a surrogate marker both for adult and pediatric HF.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT00005391 (May 26, 2000), NCT01873976 (June 10, 2013).

Temporal Trends, Risk Factors, and Clinical Outcomes of De Novo Lymphoproliferative Disorders After Heart Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in heart transplant (HTx) recipients. However, previous studies of PTLD after HTx are limited to single-center analyses or extrapolated from all solid organ transplantations. OBJECTIVES: The authors analyzed the temporal trends, risk factors, and clinical outcome of de novo PTLD specifically after HTx. METHODS: Using multi-institutional, multinational data from the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Thoracic Organ Transplant Registry, the authors evaluated the real-world data of PTLD after HTx, transplanted between January 2000 and June 2015. Multivariable analysis was done to identify risk factors for PTLD development after HTx. RESULTS: Among 28,136 HTx recipients, 1,069 (3.8%) developed PTLD within 10 years of transplantation. PTLD showed a bimodal age pattern with peak incidence in patients of pediatric age and late adulthood at transplantation. The early transplant era (2000-2007 vs 2008-2015), male recipient, and EBV donor-positive-recipient-negative match were independent risk factors of PTLD development within 3 years of transplantation, whereas maintenance therapy with cyclosporine vs tacrolimus at initial discharge was associated with a lower incidence. PTLD development within 3 years of transplantation was significantly associated with mortality (HR: 2.42 [95% CI: 2.01-2.91]; P < 0.001). Survival after PTLD diagnosis was higher in the recent transplant era. CONCLUSIONS: PTLD is relatively rare, but potentially fatal, post-transplant malignancy. PTLD incidence and mortality after HTx have decreased in the recent era. Strategies to minimize the risk of PTLD, and ensure early diagnosis and effective treatment are likely to improve outcomes in HTx.

Emergency Department Use and Hospital Mortality Among Heart Transplant Recipients in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Annual heart transplant (HT) volumes have increased, as have post-HT outpatient care needs. Data on HT-related emergency department (ED) visits are limited. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective analysis of 177 450 HT patient ED visits from the 2009 to 2018 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample was conducted. HT recipients, primary diagnoses, and comorbidities associated with ED visits were identified via International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes. Multivariable logistic regression was used to predict outcomes of hospital admission and death. HT volumes and HT-related ED visits increased from 2009 to 2018. Infection was the most common primary diagnosis (24%), and cardiac primary diagnoses represented 10% of encounters. Hospital admissions occurred in 48% of visits, but overall mortality was low (1.6%). Length of stay was 3.1 days (interquartile range, 1.6-5.9 days), and comorbidity burden was high: 42% had hypertension, 38% had diabetes, and 31% had ≥2 comorbidities. Those aged ≥65 years had significantly higher odds of admission (odds ratio [OR], 2.14 [95% CI, 1.97-2.33]) and death (OR, 2.06 [95% CI, 1.61-2.62]). Comorbidities increased odds of admission (OR, 1.62 [95% CI, 1.51-1.75]) but not death. Renal primary diagnosis had the highest risk of admission (OR, 4.1 [95% CI, 3.6-4.6]), but cardiac primary diagnosis had the highest odds of death (OR, 11.6 [95% CI, 9.1-14.8]). CONCLUSIONS: HT-related ED visits increased from 2009 to 2018 with high admission rates but low in-hospital mortality, suggesting an opportunity to improve prehospital care. Older patients and those with cardiac primary diagnoses had the highest risk of death. The observed contrast between predictors of admission and mortality signals a need for further study to improve risk stratification and outpatient care strategies.

Research Gaps in Pediatric Heart Failure: Defining the Gaps and Then Closing Them Over the Next Decade.

Given the numerous opportunities and the wide knowledge gaps in pediatric heart failure, an international group of pediatric heart failure experts with diverse backgrounds were invited and tasked with identifying research gaps in each pediatric heart failure domain that scientists and funding agencies need to focus on over the next decade.

Hypertension: An Important But Reversible Cause of Systolic Dysfunction in a Cohort of Pediatric Patients.

Cardiac dysfunction due to hypertension (CDHTN) in pediatrics is not well described. We aimed to describe the presentation and outcomes of pediatric CDHTN and identify clinical features associated with resolution of dysfunction. A single-center retrospective cohort study of patients ≤ 21 years with CDHTN from January 2005-September 2020 was performed. Patients with systolic dysfunction without another cause, blood pressure > 95th percentile, and physician judgment that dysfunction was secondary to hypertension were included. Demographics, clinical characteristics, echocardiographic findings, and outcomes were examined using Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney U tests. Multiple correspondence analysis was used to explore the relationship of resolution of dysfunction to clinical features. Thirty-four patients were analyzed at a median age of 10.9 (IQR 0.3-16.9) years. Patients were divided into groups < 1 year (n = 12) and ≥ 1 year (n = 22). Causes of hypertension were varied by age, with renovascular disease most common in infants (42%) and medical renal disease most common in older patients (77%). Echocardiography demonstrated mild LV dilation (median LV end-diastolic z-score 2.6) and mild LV hypertrophy (median LV mass z-score 2.4). Most patients (81%) had resolution of dysfunction, particularly infants (92%). One patient died and one patient was listed for heart transplant. None required mechanical circulatory support (MCS). No clinical features were statistically associated with resolution of dysfunction. Hypertension is an important but reversible cause of systolic dysfunction in children. Patients are likely to recover with low mortality and low utilization of MCS or transplantation. Further studies are needed to confirm features associated with resolution of dysfunction.

Seventh Annual Society of Thoracic Surgeons Pedimacs Report.

BACKGROUND: The Pediatric Interagency Registry for Mechanical Circulatory Support (Pedimacs), supported by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, provides detailed information on pediatric patients supported with ventricular assist devices (VADs). METHODS: From September 19, 2012, to December 31, 2022, 1463 devices in 1219 patients aged <19 years were reported to the registry from 40 North American hospitals. RESULTS: Cardiomyopathy remains the most common underlying etiology (59%), followed by congenital heart disease (26%) and myocarditis (8%). Implantable continuous devices were most common (39%) type, followed by paracorporeal pulsatile (28%) and paracorporeal continuous (27%) devices. At 6 months after VAD implantation, a favorable outcome (transplant, recovery, or alive on device) was achieved in 85% of patients, which was greatest among those on implantable continuous VADs (92%) and least for paracorporeal continuous VADs (68%), although the patient population supported on these devices is different. CONCLUSIONS: This Seventh Pedimacs Report demonstrates the continued importance of VADs in the treatment of children. With the complexity of cardiac physiologies and sizes of patients, multiple types of devices are used, including paracorporeal continuous, paracorporeal pulsatile, and implantable continuous devices. The preoperative risk factors and differences in patient populations may account for some of the differences in survival observed among these devices. This report, along with other collaborative work, continues to advance the care of this challenging and vulnerable population.

Next Generation Development of Hybrid Continuous Flow Pediatric Total Artificial Heart Technology: Design-Build-Test.

To address the unmet clinical need for pediatric circulatory support, we are developing an operationally versatile, hybrid, continuous-flow, total artificial heart ("Dragon Heart"). This device integrates a magnetically levitated axial and centrifugal blood pump. Here, we utilized a validated axial flow pump, and we focused on the development of the centrifugal pump. A motor was integrated to drive the centrifugal pump, achieving 50% size reduction. The motor design was simulated by finite element analysis, and pump design improvement was attained by computational fluid dynamics. A prototype centrifugal pump was constructed from biocompatible 3D printed parts for the housing and machined metal parts for the drive system. Centrifugal prototype testing was conducted using water and then bovine blood. The fully combined device ( i.e. , axial pump nested inside of the centrifugal pump) was tested to ensure proper operation. We demonstrated the hydraulic performance of the two pumps operating in tandem, and we found that the centrifugal blood pump performance was not adversely impacted by the simultaneous operation of the axial blood pump. The current iteration of this design achieved a range of operation overlapping our target range. Future design iterations will further reduce size and incorporate complete and active magnetic levitation.

Cardiac Remodeling in Subclinical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: The VANISH Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Valsartan has shown promise in attenuating cardiac remodeling in patients with early-stage sarcomeric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Genetic testing can identify individuals at risk of HCM in a subclinical stage who could benefit from therapies that prevent disease progression. Objective: To explore the potential for valsartan to modify disease development, and to characterize short-term phenotypic progression in subclinical HCM. Design, Setting, and Participants: The multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled Valsartan for Attenuating Disease Evolution in Early Sarcomeric Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (VANISH) randomized clinical trial was conducted from April 2014 to July 2019 at 17 sites in 4 countries (Brazil, Canada, Denmark, and the US), with 2 years of follow-up. The prespecified exploratory VANISH cohort studied here included sarcomere variant carriers with subclinical HCM and early phenotypic manifestations (reduced E' velocity, electrocardiographic abnormalities, or an increased left ventricular [LV] wall thickness [LVWT] to cavity diameter ratio) but no LV hypertrophy (LVH). Data were analyzed between March and December 2022. Interventions: Treatment with placebo or valsartan (80 mg/d for children weighing <35 kg, 160 mg/d for children weighing ≥35 kg, or 320 mg/d for adults aged ≥18 years). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was a composite z score incorporating changes in 9 parameters of cardiac remodeling (LV cavity volume, LVWT, and LV mass; left atrial [LA] volume; E' velocity and S' velocity; and serum troponin and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide levels). Results: This study included 34 participants, with a mean (SD) age of 16 (5) years (all were White). A total of 18 participants (8 female [44%] and 10 male [56%]) were randomized to valsartan and 16 (9 female [56%] and 7 male [44%]) were randomized to placebo. No statistically significant effects of valsartan on cardiac remodeling were detected (mean change in composite z score compared with placebo: -0.01 [95% CI, -0.29 to 0.26]; P = .92). Overall, 2-year phenotypic progression was modest, with only a mild increase in LA volume detected (increased by 3.5 mL/m2 [95% CI, 1.4-6.0 mL/m2]; P = .002). Nine participants (26%) had increased LVWT, including 6 (18%) who developed clinically overt HCM. Baseline LA volume index (LAVI; 35 vs 28 mL/m2; P = .01) and average interventricular septum thickness (8.5 vs 7.0 mm; P = .009) were higher in participants who developed HCM. Conclusions and Relevance: In this exploratory cohort, valsartan was not proven to slow progression of subclinical HCM. Minimal changes in markers of cardiac remodeling were observed, although nearly one-fifth of patients developed clinically overt HCM. Transition to disease was associated with greater baseline interventricular septum thickness and LAVI. These findings highlight the importance of following sarcomere variant carriers longitudinally and the critical need to improve understanding of factors that drive disease penetrance and progression. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01912534.

Widening care gap in VAD therapy.

BACKGROUND: The removal of the HeartWare ventricular assist device (HVAD) due to pump malfunctions and inferior outcomes compared to HeartMate 3 (HM3) in adults has created a care gap for younger patients. It is unclear if the reported HVAD survival differs by age and if the initial experience with HM3 can bridge the gap. METHODS: Using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Intermacs and Pedimacs registries, durable ventricular assist device (VAD) implants between September 2012 and December 2021 were identified. Young adults (YA) were defined as <40 years old in Intermacs. Patients were excluded if they had an isolated right VAD (RVAD) or were implanted as destination therapy (DT). Survival analysis by Kaplan-Meier (KM) and competing outcomes curves was performed, and 1-year survival is reported. RESULTS: The Intermacs cohort consisted of YA (n = 1226; HVAD 818; HM3 408) with a median age of YA of 32.07 (26.66-36.27) years and weight (wt) of 83.2 (68-104.2) kg. Most had cardiomyopathy (CM) (92.2%). The Pedimacs cohort was 668 patients (median age 9.47 [1.82-14.23] years, wt 27.2 [10-57.05] kg), and most also had CM (70.5%). Device breakdown included HVAD (n = 326), Berlin EXCOR (n = 277), and HM3 (n = 65). HVAD survival differed by age in adults, with YA fairing better than adults >40 years old (88.8% vs 79.4% at 1 year, p < 0.0001). YA survival was also better compared to Pedimacs patient (88.9% vs 83.7%, p = 0.0002), but when competing events were analyzed, mortality was similar to YA (9.2% vs 9.6%, p = 0.1) with a higher proportion of patient undergoing transplant at 1 year in Pedimacs (74% vs 31.3%, p < 0.0001). Survival by device differed between HVAD and HM3 in YA (88.8% vs 94.4%, p = 0.0025). This difference in device survival was not seen in all children (83.7% vs 87.3%, p = 0.21), including those ≥25 kg. Adverse event profiles also differed across the groups with adults seeing less adverse events with the HM3, but the same was not found (including stroke) in the pediatric cohort. Survival outcomes for patients between 10 and 25 kg were similar with the HVAD compared to the Berlin Heart EXCOR (p = 0.4290), with similarities in stroke risk. CONCLUSION: The removal of the HVAD device may result in a care gap in younger patient whose survival outcomes do not mirror that of older adults. The HM3 can fill a portion of this gap with good survival, but there remains a subset of pediatric patients that, based on initial HM3 use, will no longer have access to intracorporeal support and therefore, despite reasonable outcomes with the Berlin Heart EXCOR, will not be able to be discharged home. Lastly, it is essential that future changes to the availability of devices take into account the various patient populations that utilize the device to avoid unintended consequences of access inequality.

Survival in Pediatric Patients With Ventricular Assist Devices: A Special Pediatric Interagency Registry for Mechanical Circulatory Support (Pedimacs) Report.

BACKGROUND: The Pediatric Interagency Registry for Mechanical Circulatory Support (Pedimacs) provides detailed understanding on pediatric patients supported with ventricular assist devices (VADs). We sought to identify important variables affecting mortality in pediatric VADs. METHODS: Patients aged <19 years, from 2012 to 2021, were included. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier. Parametric hazard modeling was used to identify risk factors for death. RESULTS: Of the 1109 patients, the most common devices were implantable continuous (IC, 448 [40%]), followed by paracorporeal pulsatile (PP, 306 [28%]), paracorporeal continuous (PC, 293 [26%]), and percutaneous (58 [5%]). Patients with percutaneous device, infants, congenital heart disease, biventricular support, and Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support profile 1 had worse overall survival at 6 months. Positive outcome was 83% at 6 months. Consistent with their cohort composition, device type positive outcomes at 6 months were IC, 92%; PP, 84%; and PC, 69%. Parametric hazard modeling for overall survival showed an early hazard for death with biventricular support, congenital heart disease (CHD), intubation before implantation, PC device, and renal impairment, whereas a constant hazard was associated with ascites. For patients <10 kg, parametric modeling showed an early hazard for CHD, intubation, and renal impairment. Modeling in CHD patients showed an early hazard for biventricular support, renal impairment, and use of PC/PP devices. CONCLUSIONS: This multivariable analysis of the complete Pedimacs database demonstrates that illness at VAD implantation, diagnosis, and strategy of support affect survival and differ by device type. We hope this is the first step in creating a predictive tool to help providers and families have informed expectations.

Impact of donor-specific anti-HLA antibody on cardiac hemodynamics and graft function 3 years after pediatric heart transplantation: First results from the CTOTC-09 multi-institutional study.

The aim of this study (CTOTC-09) was to assess the impact of "preformed" (at transplant) donor-specific anti-HLA antibody (DSA) and first year newly detected DSA (ndDSA) on allograft function at 3 years after pediatric heart transplantation (PHTx). We enrolled children listed at 9 North American centers. The primary end point was pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) at 3 years posttransplant. Of 407 enrolled subjects, 370 achieved PHTx (mean age, 7.7 years; 57% male). Pre-PHTx sensitization status was nonsensitized (n = 163, 44%), sensitized/no DSA (n = 115, 31%), sensitized/DSA (n = 87, 24%), and insufficient DSA data (n = 5, 1%); 131 (35%) subjects developed ndDSA. Subjects with any DSA had comparable PCWP at 3 years to those with no DSA. There were also no significant differences overall between the 2 groups for other invasive hemodynamic measurements, systolic graft function by echocardiography, and serum brain natriuretic peptide concentration. However, in the multivariable analysis, persistent first-year DSA was a risk factor for 3-year abnormal graft function. Graft and patient survival did not differ between groups. In summary, overall, DSA status was not associated with worse allograft function or inferior patient and graft survival at 3 years, but persistent first-year DSA was a risk factor for late graft dysfunction.

Impact of Ventricular Dysfunction and Atrioventricular Valve Regurgitation on Pre-Fontan Attrition.

BACKGROUND: There is a significant incidence of pre-Fontan attrition-defined as failure to undergo Fontan completion-after superior cavopulmonary connection. This study investigated the impact of at least moderate ventricular dysfunction (VD) and atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVVR) on pre-Fontan attrition. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study included all infants who underwent Norwood palliation from 2008 to 2020 and subsequently underwent superior cavopulmonary connection. Pre-Fontan attrition was defined as death, listing for heart transplantation before Fontan completion, or unsuitability for Fontan completion. The study's secondary outcome was transplant-free survival. RESULTS: Pre-Fontan attrition occurred in 34 of 267 patients (12.7%). Isolated VD was not associated with attrition. However, patients with isolated AVVR had 5 times the odds of attrition (odds ratio, 5.4; 95% CI 1.8-16.2), and patients with both VD and AVVR had 20 times the odds of attrition (odds ratio, 20.1; 95% CI 7.7-52.8) compared with patients without VD or AVVR. Only patients with both VD and AVVR had significantly worse transplant-free survival compared with patients without VD or AVVR (hazard ratio, 7.7; 95% CI 2.8-21.6). CONCLUSIONS: The additive effect of VD and AVVR is a powerful contributor to pre-Fontan attrition. Future research investigating therapies that can mitigate the degree of AVVR may help improve Fontan completion rates and long-term outcomes.

Cardiac imaging and biomarkers for assessing myocardial fibrosis in children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial fibrosis, as diagnosed on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), is associated with adverse outcomes in adults with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), but its prevalence and magnitude in children with HCM have not been established. We investigated: (1) the prevalence and extent of myocardial fibrosis as detected by LGE cMRI; (2) the agreement between echocardiographic and cMRI measurements of cardiac structure; and (3) whether serum concentrations of N-terminal pro hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin-T are associated with cMRI measurements. METHODS: A cross-section of children with HCM from 9 tertiary-care pediatric heart centers in the U.S. and Canada were enrolled in this prospective NHLBI study of cardiac biomarkers in pediatric cardiomyopathy (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01873976). The median age of the 67 participants was 13.8 years (range 1-18 years). Core laboratories analyzed echocardiographic and cMRI measurements, and serum biomarker concentrations. RESULTS: In 52 children with non-obstructive HCM undergoing cMRI, overall low levels of myocardial fibrosis with LGE >2% of left ventricular (LV) mass were detected in 37 (71%) (median %LGE, 9.0%; IQR: 6.0%, 13.0%; range, 0% to 57%). Echocardiographic and cMRI measurements of LV dimensions, LV mass, and interventricular septal thickness showed good agreement using the Bland-Altman method. NT-proBNP concentrations were strongly and positively associated with LV mass and interventricular septal thickness (P < .001), but not LGE. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of myocardial fibrosis are common in pediatric patients with HCM seen at referral centers. Longitudinal studies of myocardial fibrosis and serum biomarkers are warranted to determine their predictive value for adverse outcomes in pediatric patients with HCM.

Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in Patients Diagnosed With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy During Childhood: Insights From the SHaRe Registry.

BACKGROUND: The development of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is rare but serious and associated with poor outcomes in adults. Little is known about the prevalence, predictors, and prognosis of LVSD in patients diagnosed with HCM as children. METHODS: Data from patients with HCM in the international, multicenter SHaRe (Sarcomeric Human Cardiomyopathy Registry) were analyzed. LVSD was defined as left ventricular ejection fraction <50% on echocardiographic reports. Prognosis was assessed by a composite of death, cardiac transplantation, and left ventricular assist device implantation. Predictors of developing incident LVSD and subsequent prognosis with LVSD were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: We studied 1010 patients diagnosed with HCM during childhood (<18 years of age) and compared them with 6741 patients with HCM diagnosed as adults. In the pediatric HCM cohort, median age at HCM diagnosis was 12.7 years (interquartile range, 8.0-15.3), and 393 (36%) patients were female. At initial SHaRe site evaluation, 56 (5.5%) patients with childhood-diagnosed HCM had prevalent LVSD, and 92 (9.1%) developed incident LVSD during a median follow-up of 5.5 years. Overall LVSD prevalence was 14.7% compared with 8.7% in patients with adult-diagnosed HCM. Median age at incident LVSD was 32.6 years (interquartile range, 21.3-41.6) for the pediatric cohort and 57.2 years (interquartile range, 47.3-66.5) for the adult cohort. Predictors of developing incident LVSD in childhood-diagnosed HCM included age <12 years at HCM diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.72 [CI, 1.13-2.62), male sex (HR, 3.1 [CI, 1.88-5.2), carrying a pathogenic sarcomere variant (HR, 2.19 [CI, 1.08-4.4]), previous septal reduction therapy (HR, 2.34 [CI, 1.42-3.9]), and lower initial left ventricular ejection fraction (HR, 1.53 [CI, 1.38-1.69] per 5% decrease). Forty percent of patients with LVSD and HCM diagnosed during childhood met the composite outcome, with higher rates in female participants (HR, 2.60 [CI, 1.41-4.78]) and patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction <35% (HR, 3.76 [2.16-6.52]). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with childhood-diagnosed HCM have a significantly higher lifetime risk of developing LVSD, and LVSD emerges earlier than for patients with adult-diagnosed HCM. Regardless of age at diagnosis with HCM or LVSD, the prognosis with LVSD is poor, warranting careful surveillance for LVSD, especially as children with HCM transition to adult care.

Reduced incidence of cardiac rejection in multi-organ transplants: A propensity matched study.

BACKGROUND: Rejection remains a primary cause of graft loss after heart transplant (HT). Recognizing the immunomodulation of multi-organ transplant can enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of cardiac rejection. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study identified patients from the UNOS database with isolated heart (H, N = 37 433), heart-kidney (HKi, N = 1516), heart-liver (HLi, N = 286), and heart-lung (HLu, N = 408) transplants from 2004 to 2019. Propensity score matching reduced baseline differences between groups. Outcomes included risk of rejection prior to transplant hospital discharge and within 1 year, and mortality within 1 year of transplant. RESULTS: In the propensity score matched data, the relative risk of being treated for rejection prior to transplant hospital discharge was 61% lower for HKi (RR .39, 95% CI .29, .53) and 87% lower for HLi (RR .13, 95% CI .05, .37) compared to H. Similarly, the probability of being treated for rejection in the first year after transplant remained lower in HKi (RR .45, 95% CI .35, .57) and HLi (RR .13, 95% CI .06, .28) compared to H. The 1-year survival analysis revealed an equivalent risk of death in HKi (HR .84, 95% CI .68, 1.03) and HLi (HR 1.41, 95% CI .83, 2.41) compared to H, while HLu had a higher risk of death in the first year after transplant (HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.17, 2.33). CONCLUSIONS: Recipients of HKi and HLi experience a reduced risk of rejection when compared to H, but an equivalent risk of 1 yr mortality. These findings have important implications for the future of HT medicine.

Risk of Sudden Death in Patients With RASopathy Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Genetic defects in the RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway are an important cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (RAS-HCM). Unlike primary HCM (P-HCM), the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and long-term survival in RAS-HCM are poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: The study's objective was to compare transplant-free survival, incidence of SCD, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) use between RAS-HCM and P-HCM patients. METHODS: In an international, 21-center cohort study, we analyzed phenotype-positive pediatric RAS-HCM (n = 188) and P-HCM (n = 567) patients. The between-group differences in cumulative incidence of all outcomes from first evaluation were compared using Gray's tests, and age-related hazard of all-cause mortality was determined. RESULTS: RAS-HCM patients had a lower median age at diagnosis compared to P-HCM (0.9 years [IQR: 0.2-5.0 years] vs 9.8 years [IQR: 2.0-13.9 years], respectively) (P < 0.001). The 10-year cumulative incidence of SCD from first evaluation was not different between RAS-HCM and P-HCM (4.7% vs 4.2%, respectively; P = 0.59). The 10-year cumulative incidence of nonarrhythmic deaths or transplant was higher in RAS-HCM compared with P-HCM (11.0% vs 5.4%, respectively; P = 0.011). The 10-year cumulative incidence of ICD insertions, however, was 5-fold lower in RAS-HCM compared with P-HCM (6.9% vs 36.6%; P < 0.001). Nonarrhythmic deaths occurred primarily in infancy and SCD primarily in adolescence. CONCLUSIONS: RAS-HCM was associated with a higher incidence of nonarrhythmic death or transplant but similar incidence of SCD as P-HCM. However, ICDs were used less frequently in RAS-HCM compared to P-HCM. In addition to monitoring for heart failure and timely consideration of advanced heart failure therapies, better risk stratification is needed to guide ICD practices in RAS-HCM.