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.

Matching Donor and Recipient Size in Pediatric Heart Transplantation.

Previous analyses in pediatric heart transplant (HT) recipients using weight or height have not found donor-recipient size-mismatch to be associated with post-transplant mortality. A recent study in 3,215 normal US children developed an equation for left ventricular (LV) mass using body surface area (BSA). We assessed whether donor-recipient size match using predicted LV mass (PLM) is associated with post-transplant in-hospital mortality or 1-year graft survival. We identified 4,717 children <18 yrs old who received primary HT in the US during 01/2000 to 03/2015 and divided them into five groups [10%, 10%, 60% (reference group), 10% and 10%, respectively] with increasing donor-recipient PLM ratio. In adjusted analysis, group 1 children (PLM ratio ≤.90) were at higher risk of post-transplant in-hospital mortality [Odds Ratio (OR) 1.55, 95% CI 1.04, 2.31]. This association of the most undersized donors with recipient in-hospital mortality was similar when donor-recipient weight ratio<.88 or BSA ratio<.92 (lowest decile) were used instead. There was no difference in 1-year graft survival among groups. Utilizing donors with donor-recipient PLM ratio ≤.90 is associated with higher risk of early post-transplant mortality in pediatric HT recipients. However, this metric is not superior to donor-recipient weight ratio or BSA ratio for assessing size match.

Presentation and outcomes of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder at a single institution pediatric transplant center.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to characterize features present at the time of diagnosis and describe outcomes in patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) following pediatric solid organ transplantation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of solid organ transplant patients who developed pathologically confirmed PTLD at our center from 2006 to 2016. RESULTS: Of 594 patients included in this study, 41(6.9%) were diagnosed with PTLD. Median age at transplant was 5.6(IQR 1.7-16.1) years. Proportion of PTLD cases by organ transplanted and median time (IQR) to disease onset were: heart 11/144(7.6%) at 13.6(8.5-55.6) months, lung 7/52(13.5%) at 9.1(4.9-35) months, kidney 8/255(3.1%) at 39.5(13.9-57.1) months, liver 12/125(9.6%) at 7.7(5.5-22) months, intestine 0/4(0%), and multi-visceral 3/14(21.4%) at 5.4(5.4-5.6) months. No significant correlation was seen between recipient EBV status at transplant and timing of development of PTLD. There were six early lesions, 15 polymorphic, 19 monomorphic, and one uncharacterizable PTLD. Following immunosuppression reduction, 30 patients received rituximab, and 14 required chemotherapy. At median 25(IQR 12-53) months follow-up from the onset of PTLD, eight patients died secondary to transplant related complications, three are alive with active disease, and 30 have no evidence of disease. CONCLUSION: PTLD is a significant complication following pediatric solid organ transplantation. EBV levels in conjunction with symptomatic presentation following transplant may assist in detection of PTLD. Most patients can achieve long-term disease-free survival through immunosuppression reduction, anti-CD20 treatment, and chemotherapy in refractory cases.

Comparison of tissue Doppler imaging and conventional echocardiography to discriminate rejection from non-rejection after pediatric heart transplantation.

TDI is considered superior to conventional echocardiography for detecting changes in graft function during rejection in adults but has not demonstrated after pediatric OHT. We retrospectively analyzed echocardiograms performed within 24 hours of biopsy in 122 recipients with median age of 8.7 years. Using biopsy findings as the gold standard, we compared paired rejection and non-rejection echocardiograms using each patient as their own control. We included pairs of LV dimensions, FS, volumes, mass, mass/volume, sphericity, wall stress, SSI, SVI, and TDI velocities in this comparison. C-statistic was used to assess discrimination for individual echo variables and combinations of variables. Overall, 647 non-rejection and 24 rejection biopsy-echo pairs were identified. There was a significant decline in TDI velocities and their Z-scores during rejection but not in conventional variables (P ≤ .005). The variable that best discriminated rejection from non-rejection was LV S', with C-statistic = 0.93. Conventional echo variables performed less well with C-statistic range 0.65-0.67 for LV EF, shortening fraction, and mass. TDI is superior to conventional echocardiography measures for discriminating rejection from non-rejection. The use of newer non-invasive parameters to detect myocardial dysfunction and shifting the paradigm of rejection surveillance to detection of non-rejection together provide a promising approach to reducing the need for biopsy in pediatric heart recipients.

Is Doppler echocardiography useful for estimating left ventricular filling pressures in pediatric heart transplant recipients?

LV E/E' ratio obtained using Doppler echocardiography is considered a surrogate for LV filling pressure in adults but has performed poorly in children. We hypothesized that LV E/E' ratio Z-score, adjusted for age, will relate more strongly to LV filling pressures than LV E/E' ratio in pediatric HT recipients. We analyzed 751 echocardiograms performed within 24 hours of a heart catheterization in 122 pediatric HT recipients (median age at HT 13 years, median 6 studies per patient). The primary end-point was PCWP, assessed both as a continuous and a binary variable. Associations with LV E/E' ratios and z-scores were assessed using generalized estimating equations models. PCWP, LV E/E' ratios (using E' from LV free wall, septum, and their average), and LV E/E' ratio Z-scores, all declined over time after HT. LV E/E' ratios and their Z-scores were significantly associated with PCWP assessed as a continuous variable (P < 0.001 for all); however, the relationship was weak (R2 range, 0.083 to 0.121). LV E/E' ratios and their Z-scores were also significantly associated with PCWP as a binary variable (P < 0.001 for all) but with only modest ability to discriminate PCWP ≥15 mm Hg (c-statistic range, 0.660 to 0.695). The association between LV E/E' ratio and PCWP in pediatric HT recipients is modest. Using a LV E/E' ratio Z-score did not result in significantly improved association with PCWP. Current Doppler echocardiographic methods are unreliable for estimating LV filling pressures in pediatric HT recipients.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use in the first 24 hours following pediatric heart transplantation: Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes.

Primary graft dysfunction following HTx is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the incidence of, risk factors for, and outcomes of children requiring ECMO within 24 hours of HTx. This study utilized a linked PHIS/SRTR database of pediatric HTx recipients (2002-2016). Post-HTx ECMO was identified using inpatient billing data. Logistic regression assessed risk factors for post-HTx ECMO. Kaplan-Meier analyses assessed in-hospital mortality and post-discharge survival. A total of 2820 patients were included with 224 (7.9%) requiring ECMO. Independent risk factors for post-HTx ECMO include age <1 year (aOR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.3-3.7, P = 0.006) or 1-5 years (aOR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3-3.4, P = 0.002), and ECMO support at HTx (aOR: 27.4, 95% CI: 15.2-49.6, P < 0.001). Survival to discharge decreased with increasing duration of post-HTx ECMO support; 89% for 1-3 days, 79.1% for 4-6 days, 63.2% for 7-9 days, and 18.8% for ≥10 days. There was no difference in long-term survival for patients requiring post-HTx ECMO who survived to hospital discharge (P = 0.434). There are identifiable risk factors associated with the need for ECMO in the post-HTx period. Length of time on ECMO post-HTx is strongly associated with the risk of in-hospital mortality. Patients who require ECMO early post-HTx and survive to discharge have comparable outcomes to patients who did not require ECMO.

Hospital readmission following pediatric heart transplantation.

The frequency, indications, and outcomes for readmission following pediatric heart transplantation are poorly characterized. A better understanding of this phenomenon will help guide strategies to address the causes of readmission. Data from the Clinical Trials in Organ Transplantation for Children (CTOTC-04) multi-institutional collaborative study were utilized to determine incidence of, and risk factors for, hospital readmission within 30 days and 1 year from initial hospital discharge. Among 240 transplants at 8 centers, 227 subjects were discharged and had follow-up. 129 subjects (56.8%) were readmitted within one year; 71 had two or more readmissions. The 30-day and 1-year freedom from readmission were 70.5% (CI: 64.1%, 76.0%) and 42.2% (CI: 35.7%, 48.7%), respectively. The most common indications for readmissions were infection followed by rejection and fever without confirmed infection, accounting for 25.0%, 10.6%, and 6.2% of readmissions, respectively. Factors independently associated with increased risk of first readmission within 1 year (Cox proportional hazard model) were as follows: transplant in infancy (P = .05), longer transplant hospitalization (P = .04), lower UNOS urgency status (2/IB vs 1A) at transplant (P = .04), and Hispanic ethnicity (P = .05). Hospital readmission occurs frequently in the first year following discharge after heart transplantation with highest risk in the first 30 days. Infection is more common than rejection as cause for readmission, with death during readmission being rare. A number of patient factors are associated with higher risk of readmission. A fuller understanding of these risk factors may help tailor strategies to reduce unnecessary hospital readmission.

Center effect on posttransplant survival among currently active United States pediatric heart transplant centers.

The official analysis of posttransplant survival considers only recently transplanted patients and suggests absence of outcome differences among pediatric heart transplant (HT) centers. We sought to compare posttransplant survival among currently active pediatric HT centers in the United States over 15 years of activity. We identified all children <18 years old who underwent their first HT during 2000-2014 at US centers active during 2013-14. Recipients were followed until March 2016. A mixed-effects survival model with center as a random effect was used to assess center differences in patient and graft survival. Center case-mix and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for 90-day mortality were assessed by applying an internally validated risk-model. Overall, 4271 children transplanted at 46 centers were analyzed. There was a significant center effect on risk-adjusted patient (P = .01) and graft survival (P < .001). Adjusting for 90-day SMR or center-volume, but not for case-mix, was associated with a significant reduction in center effect on long-term survival. There was no center effect on conditional survival in 90-day survivors. In conclusion, there are significant differences in posttransplant survival among pediatric HT centers in the United States. Centers with better short-term performance (lower SMR for 90-day mortality) maintain their outcome advantage on follow-up and have superior longer-term outcomes.

Liver abnormalities and post-transplant survival in pediatric Fontan patients.

The impact of liver parenchymal abnormalities on survival post-heart transplant remains unknown in pediatric Fontan patients. We assessed pediatric Fontan patients who underwent heart transplant and had documented pretransplant hepatic ultrasound (U/S) studies. Liver U/S findings were classified as normal (Group 1), mildly abnormal (Group 2, hepatomegaly/vascular congestion), or severely abnormal (Group 3, heterogeneous echotexture/nodularity). Among 30 study patients, 8 were classified as Group 1, 14 as Group 2, while 8 met Group 3 criteria. Pretransplant liver biochemistry and synthetic function were similar in all groups. Six Group 3 patients underwent liver biopsy; 4 demonstrated perisinusoidal or centrilobular fibrosis, and 2 had cirrhosis. Overall mortality was 30% (n = 9). Median follow-up was 5 years (range, 0.25-13 years). One-year survival was similar among all 3 groups (P = .37), with a trend toward higher cumulative 5-year survival in Group 1 (100%). The majority of pediatric Fontan patients who underwent heart transplant demonstrated abnormal preoperative liver ultrasound findings. Heterogeneous echotexture or nodularity detected on U/S frequently indicates underlying liver parenchymal abnormalities. The presence of severe liver abnormalities was not associated with higher early mortality post-heart transplant in pediatric Fontan patients; however, late outcomes must be further elucidated.

Predicting graft loss by 1 year in pediatric heart transplantation candidates: an analysis of the Pediatric Heart Transplant Study database.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric data on the impact of pre-heart transplantation (HTx) risk factors on early post-HTx outcomes remain inconclusive. Thus, among patients with previous congenital heart disease or cardiomyopathy, disease-specific risk models for graft loss were developed with the use pre-HTx recipient and donor characteristics. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients enrolled in the Pediatric Heart Transplant Study (PHTS) from 1996 to 2006 were stratified by pre-HTx diagnosis into cardiomyopathy and congenital heart disease cohorts. Logistic regression identified independent, pre-HTx risk factors. Risk models were constructed for 1-year post-HTx graft loss. Donor factors were added for model refinement. The models were validated with the use of patients transplanted from 2007 to 2009. Risk factors for graft loss were identified in patients with cardiomyopathy (n=896) and congenital heart disease (n=965). For cardiomyopathy, independent risk factors were earlier year of transplantation, nonwhite race, female sex, diagnosis other than dilated cardiomyopathy, higher blood urea nitrogen, and panel reactive antibody >10%. The recipient characteristic risk model had good accuracy in the validation cohort, with predicted versus actual survival of 97.5% versus 95.3% (C statistic, 0.73). For patients with congenital heart disease, independent risk factors were nonwhite race, history of Fontan, ventilator dependence, higher blood urea nitrogen, panel reactive antibody >10%, and lower body surface area. The risk model was less accurate, with 86.6% predicted versus 92.4% actual survival, in the validation cohort (C statistic, 0.63). Donor characteristics did not enhance model precision. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for 1-year post-HTx graft loss differ on the basis of pre-HTx cardiac diagnosis. Modeling effectively stratifies the risk of graft loss in patients with cardiomyopathy and may be an adjunctive tool in allocation policies and center performance metrics.

Medium-term Outcomes in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients Managed Using a Steroid Avoidance Immune Suppression Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Short-term outcomes using steroid avoidance immune suppression are encouraging in pediatric heart transplant (HT) recipients at low risk of antibody-mediated rejection. We assessed medium-term outcomes in pediatric HT recipients initiated on a steroid avoidance protocol at our institution using surveillance biopsies. METHODS: All primary HT recipients during 2006-2020 who did not have a donor-specific antibody were eligible for immune suppression consisting of 5-d Thymoglobulin/steroid induction followed by a tacrolimus-based, steroid-free regimen. We assessed freedom from graft failure (death or retransplant), acute rejection, posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease, and cardiac allograft vasculopathy. RESULTS: Overall, 150 of 181 primary HT recipients were eligible for steroid avoidance regimen. Their median age was 8.7 y, 41% had congenital heart disease, 23% were sensitized, and 35% were on a mechanical support. The median follow-up was 6.1 y. Eleven patients (8%) were on maintenance steroids at discharge and 13% at 1 y. Graft survival was 94% at 1 y and 87% at 5 y. Freedom from rejection was 73% at 1 y and 64% at 5 y. Freedom from posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease was 96% at 1 y and 95% at 5 y. Freedom from moderate cardiac allograft vasculopathy was 94% at 5 y. Eight patients developed diabetes. Estimated glomerular filtration rate was <60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 in 5% of the cohort at 5 y. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric HT recipients at low risk of antibody-mediated rejection have excellent medium-term survival and relatively low incidence of posttransplant morbidities when managed using a steroid avoidance immune suppression protocol.

Impact of a positive crossmatch on pediatric heart transplant outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric heart transplant (HT) candidates experience high waitlist mortality due to a limited donor pool that is constrained in part by anti-HLA sensitization. We evaluated the impact of CDC and Flow donor-specific crossmatch (XM) results on pediatric HT outcomes. METHODS: All pediatric HTs between 1999 and 2019 in the OPTN database were included. Donor-specific XM results were sub-categorized based on CDC and Flow results. Primary outcomes were treated rejection in the first year and time to death or allograft loss. Propensity scores were utilized to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 4,695 pediatric HT patients with T-cell XM data were included. After propensity score adjustment, a positive T-cell CDC-XM was associated with 2 times higher odds of treated rejection (OR 2.29 (1.56, 3.37)) and shorter time to death/allograft loss (HR 1.50 (1.19, 1.88)) compared to a negative Flow-XM. HT recipients who were Flow-XM positive with negative/unknown CDC-XM did not have higher odds of rejection or shorter time to death/allograft loss. An isolated positive B-cell XM was also not associated with worse outcomes. Over the study period XM testing shifted from CDC- to Flow-based assays. CONCLUSIONS: A positive donor-specific T-cell CDC-XM was associated with rejection and death/allograft loss following pediatric HT. This association was not observed with a positive T-cell Flow-XM or B-cell XM result alone. The shift away from performing the CDC-XM may result in loss of important prognostic information unless the clinical relevance of quantitative Flow-XM results on heart transplant outcomes is systematically studied.

Mortality and Heart Transplantation After Hybrid Palliation of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Newborns with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) who are considered at increased risk for death following Norwood/Sano surgery often undergo hybrid palliation (HP) as initial surgery. We aimed to compile the HP experience in HLHS and its variants and assess the rates of, and risk factors for, death and heart transplantation. METHODS: CINAHL, CINAHL PLUS, PubMed/MEDLINE, and SCOPUS were systematically searched for HP outcome studies of death or heart transplantation in HLHS between 1998 and 2022. Pooled incidence was estimated, and potential risk factors were identified using random-effects meta-analysis and reconstructed time-to-event data from Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: Thirty-three publications were included in our review. Overall, of 1,162 patients 417 died and 57 underwent heart transplantation, resulting in a combined outcome of 40.7%, (474/1,162). There was a trend toward decreasing mortality risk across the stages of palliation. Pooled mortality between HP and comprehensive stage 2 palliation was 25%, after stage 2 up to Fontan palliation was 16%, and 6% post-Fontan. The incidence of death or heart transplantation was higher in high-risk patients-43% died and 10% received heart transplantation. CONCLUSION: Our systematic review and meta-analysis found high rates of death or heart transplantation in HP of HLHS patients between HP and Fontan surgeries. All patients should be closely followed during the initial interstage period, which is associated with the highest hazard. Prospective studies on appropriate patient selection, indications, and / or alternatives, as well as refining HP strategies for managing newborns with HLHS are needed to improve outcomes.

Racial and ethnic differences in wait-list outcomes in patients listed for heart transplantation in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Racial differences in long-term survival after heart transplant (HT) are well known. We sought to assess racial/ethnic differences in wait-list outcomes among patients listed for HT in the United States in the current era. METHODS AND RESULTS: We compared wait-list and posttransplant in-hospital mortality among white, black, and Hispanic patients ≥ 18 years of age listed for their primary HT in the United States between July 2006 and September 2010. Of 10 377 patients analyzed, 71% were white, 21% were black, and 8% were Hispanic. Black and Hispanic patients were more likely to be listed with higher urgency (listing status 1A/1B) in comparison with white patients (P<0.001). Overall, 10.5% of white, 11.6% of black, and 13.4% of Hispanic candidates died on the wait-list or became too sick for a transplant within 1 year of listing. After adjusting for baseline risk factors, Hispanic patients were at higher risk of wait-list mortality (hazard ratio 1.51, 95% CI 1.23, 1.85) in comparison with white patients, but not black patients (hazard ratio 1.13, 95% CI 0.97, 1.31). In comparison with white HT recipients, posttransplant in-hospital mortality was higher in black recipients (odds ratio 1.53, 95% CI 1.15, 2.03) but was not different in Hispanic recipients (odds ratio 0.78, 95% CI 0.48, 1.29). CONCLUSIONS: Hispanic patients listed for HT in the United States appear to be at higher risk of dying on the wait-list or becoming too sick for a transplant in comparison with white patients. Black patients are not at higher risk of wait-list mortality, but they have higher early posttransplant mortality.

Antibody depletion for the treatment of crossmatch-positive pediatric heart transplant recipients.

Sensitization to HLA is a risk factor for adverse outcomes after heart transplantation. Requiring a negative prospective CM results in longer waiting times and increased waitlist mortality. We report outcomes in a cohort of sensitized children who underwent transplant despite a positive CDC CM+ using a protocol of antibody depletion at time of transplant, followed by serial IVIG administration. All patients <21 yrs old who underwent heart transplantation at Boston Children's Hospital from 1/1998 to 1/2011 were included. We compared freedom from allograft loss, allograft rejection, and serious infection between CM+ and CM- recipients. Of 134 patients in the cohort, 33 (25%) were sensitized prior to transplantation and 12 (9%) received a CM+ heart transplant. Serious infection in the first post-transplant year was more prevalent in the CM+ patients compared with CM- patients (50% vs. 16%; p = 0.005), as was HD-AMR (50% vs. 2%; p < 0.001). There was no difference in freedom from allograft loss or any rejection. At our center, children transplanted despite a positive CM had acceptable allograft survival and risk of any rejection, but a higher risk of HD-AMR and serious infection.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for bridge to heart transplantation among children in the United States: analysis of data from the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network and Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has served for >2 decades as the standard of care for US children requiring mechanical support as a bridge to heart transplantation. Objective data on the safety and efficacy of ECMO for this indication are limited. We describe the outcomes of ECMO as a bridge to heart transplantation to serve as performance benchmarks for emerging miniaturized assist devices intended to replace ECMO. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry and the Organ Procurement Transplant Network database were merged to identify children supported with ECMO and listed for heart transplantation from 1994 to 2009. Independent predictors of wait-list and posttransplantation in-hospital mortality were identified. Objective performance goals for ECMO were developed. Of 773 children, the median age was 6 months (interquartile range, 1 to 44 months); 28% had cardiomyopathy; and in 38%, a bridge to transplantation was intended at ECMO initiation. Overall, 45% of subjects reached transplantation, although one third of those transplanted died before discharge; overall survival to hospital discharge was 47%. Wait-list mortality was independently associated with congenital heart disease, cardiopulmonary resuscitation before ECMO, and renal dysfunction. Posttransplantation mortality was associated with congenital heart disease, renal dysfunction, ECMO duration of >14 days, and initial ECMO indication as a bridge to recovery. In the objective performance goal cohort (n=485), patients with cardiomyopathy had the highest survival to hospital discharge (63%), followed by patients with myocarditis (59%), 2-ventricle congenital heart disease (44%) and 1-ventricle congenital heart disease (33%). CONCLUSION: Although ECMO is effective for short-term circulatory support, it is not reliable for the long-term circulatory support necessary for children awaiting heart transplantation. Fewer than half of patients bridged with ECMO survive to hospital discharge. More effective modalities for chronic circulatory support in children are urgently needed.

Prognostic Value of Exercise Stress Echocardiography in Pediatric Cardiac Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a leading cause of long-term morbidity and mortality in pediatric heart transplant (HTx) recipients. Exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) has been shown to be useful in the detection of angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease in children. However, the prognostic utility of ESE for prediction of cardiac events in HTx survivors is unknown. OBJECTIVES: We aim to assess whether an abnormal (positive) ESE is be associated with a higher risk of future cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in pediatric HTx recipients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of CV outcomes in a cohort of 95 pediatric HTx recipients who underwent 188 ESEs over a 10-year period. A composite endpoint for CV events including myocardial infarction, hospitalization for nonrejection heart failure, coronary revascularization, need for repeat transplantation, and death was used. Based on the interpretation of the ESE results, each ESE study was classified for this study as either positive (abnormal) or negative (normal) for ischemia. Results of the coronary angiograms performed near the time of ESE were also assessed and classified for this study as positive (abnormal) or negative (normal) for CAV according to standard HTx criteria for CAV. RESULTS: Fifty-one (27%) ESEs were positive for ischemia. There was a total of 35 CV events in 23 patients. A positive ESE was associated with increased risk of any CV event (hazard ratio = 3.55; 95% CI, 1.52, 8.28), as well as an increased risk of CV death (hazard ratio = 3.19; 95% CI, 1.23, 8.28). Freedom from composite CV outcome at 1, 2, and 3 years following a positive ESE was 89.9% (95% CI = 77.3%, 95.7%), 81.5% (95% CI = 65.9%, 90.5%), and 63.2% (95% CI = 41.9%, 78.5%), respectively. Freedom from composite CV outcome at 1, 2, and 3 years following a negative ESE was 99.3% (94.8, 99.9), 98.4% (93.6, 99.6), and 97.0% (90.6, 99.1), respectively. No patient died within 1 year of a negative ESE. CONCLUSIONS: In this largest study of ESE in pediatric HTx recipients, a positive or abnormal ESE is associated with increased future CV morbidity and mortality. Conversely, a negative ESE can help predict CV event-free survival. Even in the setting of a normal coronary angiogram, our pilot data show that an abnormal ESE may still be clinically important. Use of ESE in follow-up may improve risk stratification and management of pediatric HTx recipients.

Racial and socioeconomic disparities in pediatric heart transplant outcomes in the era of anti-thymocyte globulin induction.

BACKGROUND: Black race is associated with worse outcomes across solid organ transplantation. Augmenting immunosuppression through antithymocyte globulin (ATG) induction may mitigate organ rejection and graft loss. We investigated whether racial and socioeconomic outcome disparities persist in children receiving ATG induction. METHODS: Using the Pediatric Heart Transplant Society registry, we compared outcomes in Black and White children who underwent heart transplant with ATG induction between 2000 and 2020. The primary outcomes of treated rejection, rejection with hemodynamic compromise (HC), and graft loss (death or re-transplant). We explored the association of these outcomes with race and socioeconomic disparity, assessed using a neighborhood deprivation index [NDI] score at 1-year post-transplant (high NDI score implies more socioeconomic disadvantage). RESULTS: The study cohort included 1,719 ATG-induced pediatric heart transplant recipients (22% Black, 78% White). There was no difference in first year treated rejection (Black 24.5%, White 28.1%, p = 0.2). During 10 year follow up, the risk of treated rejection was similar; however, Black recipients were at higher risk of HC rejection (p = 0.009) and graft loss (p = 0.02). Black recipients had a higher mean NDI score (p < 0.001). Graft loss conditional on 1-year survival was associated with high NDI score in both White and Black recipients (p < 0.0001). In a multivariable Cox model, both high NDI score (HR 1.97, 95% CI 1.23-3.17) and Black race (HR 2.22, 95% CI 1.40-3.53) were associated with graft loss. CONCLUSION: Black race and socioeconomic disadvantage remain associated with late HC rejection and graft loss in children with ATG induction. These disparities represent important opportunities to improve long term transplant outcomes.