Sexual Quality of Life in Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients and Their Partners.

BACKGROUND: Living with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) comes with potentially burdensome aspects posed by, for example, battery packs and device drivelines. We aim to describe the impact of living with a durable LVAD on sexual quality of life (QOL), depression, and anxiety in patients and their partners. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this single-center, prospective, observational study, patients ≥4 months after LVAD implantation and their partners completed the Sexual Activities in Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients or Partners questionnaire to assess their sexual QOL, the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) to assess symptoms of depression and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) to assess symptoms of anxiety. Sixty patients and 60 partners completed the questionnaires 2.3 ± 1.9 years after implantation. Eighty-seven percent of the patients and 13% of partners were male. The mean age of patients was 57.4 ± 13.3 years, with 90% living with their partner. Ten percent of patients and 18% of partners had a current diagnosis of a psychological condition, most frequently depression and/or anxiety. Overall, 49% of participants indicated the LVAD influenced their sexual activity (patients 53% vs partners 45%; P = .33). Disturbances from the driveline were the most common problem indicated. Twenty-four percent of participants had scored in the mild to moderate depression range on the PHQ-8 and 28% scored in the mild to severe anxiety range on the GAD-7. The median total GAD-7 (1 [interquartile range (IQR) 0-4.25] vs 2.5 [IQR 0-5]; P = .06) were comparable between patients and partners; whereas patients had a higher total PHQ-8 score (3 [IQR 0-5.25] vs 1 [IQR 0-3.25]; P = .02). A preference to receive information regarding sexuality while on LVAD support was indicated by 54% of participants and did not differ between patients and partners (P > .99). Written resources were the most commonly preferred source of information. CONCLUSIONS: LVADs severely affect the sexual QOL for patients and their partners. The presence of a driveline is a major cause for concern. Patients prefer receiving written information on how to improve their sexual QOL.

Baroreflex Function in Cardiovascular Disease.

The baroreflex system is involved in modulating several physiological functions of the cardiovascular system and can modulate cardiac output, blood pressure, and cardiac electrophysiology directly and indirectly. In addition, it is involved in regulating neurohormonal pathways involved in the cardiovascular function, such as the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and vasopressin release. Baroreflex dysfunction is characterized by sympathetic overactivation and parasympathetic withdrawal and is associated with several cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, heart failure, and coronary artery disease. Targeting the baroreflex system via invasive (eg, baroreflex activation therapy and endovascular baroreceptor amplification) and noninvasive approaches (eg, slow breathing exercises and exercise training) has emerged as a novel pathway to manage cardiovascular diseases. Studies examining the long-term safety and efficacy of such interventions in various cardiovascular diseases are needed.

The impact of active cytomegalovirus infection on donor-derived cell-free DNA testing in heart transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the relationship between cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections and donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) in heart transplant recipients. METHODS: In our study, CMV and dd-cfDNA results were prospectively collected on single-organ heart transplant recipients. If the CMV study was positive, a CMV study with dd-cfDNA was repeated 1-3 months later. The primary aim was to compare dd-cfDNA between patients with positive and negative CMV results. RESULTS: Of 44 patients enrolled between August 2022 and April 2023, 12 tested positive for CMV infections, 25 were included as controls, and seven patients with a viral infection without CMV were excluded. Baseline characteristics did not differ significantly between CMV-positive and CMV-negative patients with the exception of a later median time post-transplant in the CMV-positive group (253 days vs. 120 days, p = .03). Dd-cfDNA levels were significantly higher in patients with CMV infections compared to those without (p < .001) with more patients in the CMV positive group showing dd-cfDNA results ≥.12% (75% vs. 8%, p < .001) and ≥.20% (58% vs. 8%, p = .002). Each 1 log10 copy/ml reduction in CMV viral load from visit 1 to visit 2 was associated with a.23% reduction in log10 dd-cfDNA (p = .002). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that active CMV infections may raise dd-cfDNA levels in patients following heart transplantation. Larger studies are needed to validate these preliminary findings.

Early elevated donor-derived cell-free DNA levels in heart transplant recipients following precision-controlled cardiac transport system or ice-cooled organ transport.

BACKGROUND: Recent innovations in temperature-controlled cardiac transportation allow for static hypothermic preservation of transplant organs during transportation. We assessed differences in donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) using the SherpaPak cardiac transport system (SCTS) and traditional ice transportation. METHODS: Single-organ heart transplant recipients between January 2020 and January 2022 were included if they had dd-cfDNA measures ≤6 weeks post-transplant along with the baseline biopsy at 6 weeks as part of the surveillance protocol and no biopsy-confirmed rejection ≤90 days. Elevated dd-cfDNA ≥.20% were compared between groups using logistic regression including a subject effect. RESULTS: Of 65 hearts transplanted, 30 were transported with SCTS and 35 on ice. Recipient characteristics were similar between groups. Donors in the SCTS group were older (34 vs. 40 years, p = .04) with a longer total ischemic time (171 vs. 212 min, p = .002). Recipients in the SCTS group had a greater risk of elevated dd-cfDNA unadjusted and adjusted for donor age, and prolonged ischemic times > 3.5 h (Unadjusted odds ratio: 4.9, 95%-CI: 1.08-22.5, p = .039 and Adjusted odds ratio: 5.5, 95%-CI: 1.03-29.6, p = .046). Primary graft dysfunction rates and 1-year mortality were comparable between groups. CONCLUSION: Elevated dd-cfDNA in patients procured with SCTS may indicate that graft injury was not negated relative to ice transport. However, there were no clinical differences noted in short or long-term outcomes including mortality despite a longer ischemic time in the SCTS group.

Safety and efficacy of ProtekDuo right ventricular assist device: A systemic review.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular failure is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The ProtekDuo (Livanova, Uk) is a dual-lumen cannula that allows for percutaneous right ventricular support and may be connected to a centrifugal blood pump such as the TandemHeart or LifeSparc (Livanova, UK). This systematic review aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ProtekDuo right ventricular support and evaluate potential clinical variables that can influence outcomes. METHODS: PubMed, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched. Studies meeting inclusion criteria, where ProtekDuo was used as the right ventricular assist device with reported numerical death counts for mortality as outcome measures. The primary endpoints were in-hospital 30-day and 1-year mortality rates. Secondary endpoints included ICU length of stay, conversion rates to surgical RVADs, ProtekDuo wean rates, duration of use of ProtekDuo, and adverse event rates. RESULTS: Of 49 studies reviewed, 7 met inclusion criteria with study periods between October 2014 and November 2019. ProtekDuo was utilized due to RV failure post-LVAD insertion in 64.8% (68/105) of patients. In-hospital mortality, 30-day mortality, and 1-year mortality ranged between 9%-46%, 15%-40%, and 19%-40%, respectively. Weaning from ProtekDuo and conversion to surgical RVAD ranged between 24%-91% and 11%-35%, respectively. The ICU stay average ranged from 15.8 to 36 days and ProtekDuo mean support duration ranged from 10.5 to 58 days. CONCLUSION: The ProtekDuo cannula is increasingly utilized as a right ventricular support device. Despite the sparse retrospective data available with variable patient characteristics and study design, percutaneous RV mechanical support via ProtekDuo cannula is a safe and feasible option.

Evolving the surveillance and workup of heart transplant rejection: A real-world analysis of the Molecular Microscope Diagnostic System.

The Molecular Microscope Diagnostic System (MMDx) analyzes RNA transcripts of transplanted heart tissue to differentiate among T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR), antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), injury, and healthy tissue. However, little is known about its performance in relation to other modalities in a real-world heart transplant population. We evaluated whether MMDx performs in agreement with other validated modalities. Two hundred and twenty-eight corresponding endomyocardial biopsies (EMBx) and MMDx specimens from 135 adult heart transplant patients were retrospectively reviewed with correlating donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA). Rejection was classified on EMBx in 29 specimens (TCMR ≥ 2R and/or AMR ≥ 1), on MMDx in 56 specimens, and in 74 values with dd-cfDNA ≥0.20%. Despite moderate agreement between EMBx and MMDx (84% agreement, Cohen's kappa, 0.48, p < .001), systematic differences were observed (McNemar's test, p < .001) where MMDx classified 32 of 37 discordant cases as rejection. MMDx and dd-cfDNA demonstrated slight agreement (72% agreement, Cohen's kappa, 0.39, p < .001); however, systematic differences were also apparent where MMDx classified 12 of 50 discordant specimens as rejection when dd-cfDNA was <0.20% (McNemar's test, p < .001). Our findings provide insight on the performance of MMDx relative to other modalities in a heart transplant cohort and have implications on the surveillance and workup of allograft rejection in heart transplantation.

Ambulatory factors influencing pulmonary artery pressure waveforms and implications for clinical practice.

CardioMEMS, a remote pulmonary artery pressure monitoring system, provides waveform patterns for the ambulatory heart failure patient. These waveforms provide significant insights into patient volume and clinical management. We aim to provide a foundation for understanding the determinants of waveform characteristics and provide practical examples illustrating how to interpret and integrate common scenario waveforms into clinical decision-making. A total of three groups of relevant scenarios were included namely (a) location and activity at time of waveform transmission, (b) impact of contemporary interventions, and (c) arrhythmias. We illustrate that waveform analysis can be individualized to each patient's care strategy in the appropriate clinical context to help guide clinical decision-making.

Importance of right heart catheterization in advanced heart failure management.

Patients with chronic congestive heart failure belong to a population with reduced quality of life, poor functional class, and increased risk of mortality and morbidity. In these patients, assessment of invasive hemodynamics both serves therapeutic purposes and is useful for stratification roles. The right heart catheterization has become a cornerstone diagnostic tool for patients in refractory heart failure or cardiogenic shock, as well as for the assessment of candidacy for heart replacement therapies, and the management of patients following mechanical circulatory assist device implantation and heart transplantation.

Observed elevated donor-derived cell free DNA in orthotopic heart transplant recipients without clinical evidence of rejection.

Donor-derived cell free DNA (dd-cfDNA) has rapidly become part of rejection surveillance following orthotopic heart transplantation. However, some patients show elevated dd-cfDNA without clinical evidence of rejection. With the aim to provide a clinical description of this subpopulation, we retrospectively analyzed 35 cardiac transplant recipients at our center who experienced elevated (≥.20%) dd-cfDNA in the absence of clinical rejection, out of a total 106 recipients who had dd-cfDNA results available during the first year. The median time to first elevated dd-cfDNA level was 46 days, and the highest dd-cfDNA recorded within 1 year was .31% [inter-quartile range, .23-.45]. Twenty-two (63%) patients experienced infections (cytomegalovirus (CMV) or other), and 16 (46%) presented with de novo donor-specific antibodies. Cluster analysis revealed four distinct groups characterized by (a) subclinical rejection with 50% CMV (n = 16), (b) non-CMV infections and the longest time to first elevated dd-cfDNA (187 days) (n = 8), (c) right ventricular dysfunction (n = 6), and (d) women who showed the youngest median age (45 years) and highest median dd-cfDNA (.50%) (n = 5). Continued prospective analysis is needed to determine if these observations warrant changes in patient management to optimize the utilization of this vital non-invasive graft surveillance tool.

Angiotensin II: A Review of Current Literature.

Up to one-third of all patients admitted to intensive care units carry a diagnosis of shock. The use of angiotensin II is becoming widespread in all forms of shock, including cardiogenic, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) initial approval for vasoplegic shock in 2017. Here, the authors review the literature on angiotensin II's mechanism of action, benefits, and future therapeutic opportunities.

Urinary Cell-Cycle Arrest Biomarkers as Early Predictors of Acute Kidney Injury After Ventricular Assist Device Implantation or Cardiac Transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: Acute kidney injury (AKI) remains a leading source of morbidity and mortality after cardiothoracic surgery. Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2), are novel early-phase renal biomarkers that have been validated as sensitive predictors of AKI. Here the authors studied the efficacy of these biomarkers for predicting AKI after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation and cardiac transplantation. DESIGN/SETTING/PARTICIPANTS/INTERVENTIONS: This was a prospective study of 73 patients undergoing LVAD implantation (n = 37) or heart transplant (n = 36) from 2016 to 2017 at the authors' center. TIMP-2 and IGFBP7 were measured with the NephroCheck Test on urine samples before surgery and one-to-six hours after surgery. NephroCheck scores were assessed as predictors of moderate/severe AKI (Kidney Disease International Global Outcomes 2/3 creatinine criteria) within 48 hours of surgery, and the association with survival to one year was investigated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The LVAD and transplant cohorts overall were similar in demographics and baseline creatinine (p > 0.05), with the exception of having more African-American patients in the LVAD arm (p = 0.003). Eleven (30%) LVAD and 16 (44%) transplant patients developed moderate/severe AKI. Overall, AKI was associated with postsurgery NephroCheck (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] for 0.1 mg/dL increase: 1.36 [1.04-1.79]; p = 0.03), but not with baseline NephroCheck (p = 0.92). When analyzed by cohort, this effect remained for LVAD (1.68 [1.05-2.71]; p = 0.03) but not for transplant (p = 0.15). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed postoperative NephroCheck to be superior to baseline creatinine in LVAD (p = 0.046). Furthermore, an increase of 0.1 mg/dL in postoperative NephroCheck was associated with a 10% increase in the risk of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.11 [1.01-1.21]; p = 0.04) independent of age and body mass index. CONCLUSION: Assessment of TIMP-2 and IGFBP7 within six hours after surgery appeared effective at predicting AKI in patients with LVADs. Larger studies are warranted to validate these findings.

Impact of risk-stratified mycophenolate dosing in heart transplantation.

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), the prodrug of mycophenolic acid, is a highly effective immunosuppressive agent in heart transplant therapy. While the FDA approved dose is 1500 mg twice daily, dosing is often reduced due to dose-dependent adverse effects. However, empiric MMF dose reductions may lead to sub-therapeutic dosing and impair clinical outcomes. Our single center protocolized a risk-stratified approach based on age and weight to dose 500 mg twice daily or 1000 mg twice daily to patients after heart transplantation. This retrospective single-center study analyzed 140 consecutive heart transplant patients who were initiated on our risk-stratified MMF protocol post-transplant. The analysis revealed that the composite rate of biopsy-proven rejection, graft loss, or mortality at 1-year post-transplantation was similar between the two groups. Incidence of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, infection, cardiac allograft vasculopathy, or acute kidney injury by 1-year also showed similar results between the two groups. Risk-stratification of MMF dosing appears to be a safe and effective strategy after heart transplantation.

Bridge to Transplantation: Policies Impact Practices.

Since the development of the first heart allocation system in 1988 to the most recent heart allocation system in 2018, the road to heart transplantation has continued to evolve. Policies were shaped with advances in temporary and durable left ventricular assist devices as well as prioritization of patients based on degree of illness. Herein, we review the changes in the heart allocation system over the past several decades and the impact of practice patterns across the United States.

Three-year outcomes of de novo tacrolimus extended-release tablets (LCPT) compared to twice-daily tacrolimus in adult heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Extended-release tacrolimus for prophylaxis of allograft rejection in heart transplant (HT) recipients is currently not FDA-approved. One such extended-release formulation of tacrolimus known as LCPT allows once-daily dosing and improves bioavailability compared to immediate-release (IR-) tacrolimus. We compared long-term efficacy and safety of LCPT to IR-tacrolimus applied de novo in adult OHT recipients. METHODS: 25 prospective recipients on LCPT at our center from 2017 to 2019 were matched 1:2 with historical control recipients treated with IR-tacrolimus based on age, gender, and baseline creatinine. The primary composite outcome of death, acute cellular rejection, and/or new graft dysfunction within 3 years following transplant was compared between groups using non-inferiority analysis. RESULTS: LCPT demonstrated non-inferiority to IR-tacrolimus, with a primary outcome risk reduction of 16% (90%CI, -37%, -1%, non-inferiority p = 0.002) up to 3 years following heart transplant. Up to 3-years post-transplant, 14 patients remained on once-daily LCPT and 10 patients were switched to IR-tacrolimus due to lack of insurance coverage. There were no significant differences in the rate of chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis, cytomegalovirus requiring treatment, cardiac allograft vasculopathy, and malignancy within 3 years following transplant. CONCLUSION: LCPT is non-inferior in efficacy to IR-tacrolimus in heart transplantation with a similar safety profile. Narrowly-constrained FDA labels specific to kidney transplant remain a barrier to consistent access to many immunosuppressant medications for recipients of non-kidney solid organs. We recommend the FDA consider developing facile pathways for expanding the approved label of extended-release tacrolimus formulations to heart transplant recipients.