Single-center utilization of donor-derived cell-free DNA testing in the management of heart transplant patients.

BACKGROUND: Gene expression profiling (GEP) and donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) are useful in acute rejection (AR) surveillance in orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) patients. We report a single-center experience of combined GEP and dd-cfDNA testing for AR surveillance. METHODS: GEP and dd-cfDNA are tested together starting at 2 months post-OHT. After 6 months, combined testing was obtained before scheduled endomyocardial biopsy (EMB), and EMB was canceled with a negative dd-cfDNA. This approach was compared to using a GEP-only approach, where EMB was canceled with a negative GEP. We evaluated for frequency of EMB cancellation with dd-cfDNA usage. RESULTS: A total of 153 OHT patients over a 13-month period underwent 495 combined GEP/dd-cfDNA tests. 82.2% of dd-cfDNA tests were below threshold. Above threshold results identified high-risk patients who developed AR. 378 combined tests ≥6 months post-OHT resulted in cancellation of 83.9% EMBs as opposed to 71.2% with GEP surveillance alone. There were 2 acute cellular and 2 antibody-mediated rejection episodes, and no significant AR ≥6 months. CONCLUSION: Routine dd-cfDNA testing alongside GEP testing yielded a significant reduction in EMB volume by re-classifying GEP (+) patients into a lower risk group, without reduction in AR detection. The addition of dd-cfDNA identified patients at higher risk for AR.

Asymptomatic Versus Symptomatic Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension in Children.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a rare neurologic condition characterized by elevated intracranial pressure with normal cerebrospinal fluid analysis and neuroimaging. A subset of pediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients are coincidentally found to have papilledema and elevated intracranial pressure without symptoms (eg, headache, visual blurring, tinnitus). This study aims to investigate the features of asymptomatic pediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension. METHODS: Retrospective case-control study of patients aged 0 to 18 years who received idiopathic intracranial hypertension diagnosis from 2005 to 2016. Subjects were included if they met established diagnostic criteria for idiopathic intracranial hypertension diagnosis. Subjects were classified as symptomatic if they presented with 1 symptom related to elevated intracranial pressure, and asymptomatic if no symptoms were present. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the 2 groups. RESULTS: 12 (22.6%) of 53 pediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension subjects were asymptomatic. Compared to symptomatic idiopathic intracranial hypertension, asymptomatic idiopathic intracranial hypertension had younger age of onset, lower initial opening pressure on lumbar puncture, lower optic nerve edema grades bilaterally, lower likelihood of globe flattening on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and smaller required dose of acetazolamide for resolution of papilledema (all P < .05). CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic idiopathic intracranial hypertension is common among pediatric patients with papilledema and is an important disease entity that requires special clinical management. It may exist as a milder version of idiopathic intracranial hypertension that occurs in younger children, or as a precursor state that later evolves into symptomatic disease.