De Novo Donor-Specific Antibodies after Heart Transplantation: A Comprehensive Guide for Clinicians.

Antibodies directed against donor-specific human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) can be detected de novo after heart transplantation and play a key role in long-term survival. De novo donor-specific antibodies (dnDSAs) have been associated with cardiac allograft vasculopathy, antibody-mediated rejection, and mortality. Advances in detection methods and international guideline recommendations have encouraged the adoption of screening protocols among heart transplant units. However, there is still a lack of consensus about the correct course of action after dnDSA detection. Treatment is usually started when antibody-mediated rejection is present; however, some dnDSAs appear years before graft failure is detected, and at this point, damage may be irreversible. In particular, class II, anti-HLA-DQ, complement binding, and persistent dnDSAs have been associated with worse outcomes. Growing evidence points towards a more aggressive management of dnDSA. For that purpose, better diagnostic tools are needed in order to identify subclinical graft injury. Cardiac magnetic resonance, strain techniques, or coronary physiology parameters could provide valuable information to identify patients at risk. Treatment of dnDSA usually involves plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin, immunoadsorption, and ritxumab, but the benefit of these therapies is still controversial. Future efforts should focus on establishing effective treatment protocols in order to improve long-term survival of heart transplant recipients.

El cateterismo cardiaco derecho de esfuerzo predice eventos en los pacientes con estenosis aórtica degenerativa asintomática / Exercise right heart catheterization predicts outcome in asymptomatic degenerative aortic stenosis

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: La estenosis aórtica degenerativa es la valvulopatía más frecuente. Aún no está claro cómo identificar a los pacientes asintomáticos con fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo normal y alta probabilidad de eventos que por ello pudieran beneficiarse de una intervención valvular precoz. En este estudio se describe un protocolo de hemodinámica de esfuerzo para los pacientes asintomáticos con estenosis aórtica moderada o grave para evaluar su valor pronóstico para esta población. MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo unicéntrico de una población de pacientes con estenosis aórtica moderada o grave asintomáticos. Los pacientes realizaron una ergoespirometría para confirmar la ausencia de síntomas en esfuerzo. Después los pacientes se sometieron a un cateterismo cardiaco derecho basal y de esfuerzo. Se definió evento como muerte o necesidad de reemplazo de válvula aórtica quirúrgico o percutáneo basado en las guías clínicas. RESULTADOS: Se sometió a 33 pacientes a cateterismo cardiaco derecho basal y de esfuerzo. El área valvular aórtica media fue de 1,08 cm2 y el gradiente aórtico medio, 39 mmHg. La presión arterial pulmonar media fue de 21 mmHg, con una presión de oclusión en la arteria pulmonar de 14 mmHg y un gasto cardiaco de 5,6 l/min. La presión pulmonar media en ejercicio máximo fue de 34 mmHg. Tras un seguimiento medio de 27 meses, 8 pacientes sufrieron un evento (24%). No hubo diferencias en las variables basales, el área valvular aórtica o los parámetros de ergoespirometría. Los pacientes con evento no tuvieron mayores presiones pulmonares o presiones de llenado en ejercicio máximo, pero el grupo con eventos mostró menor saturación de oxígeno en la arteria pulmonar en esfuerzo (mediana, el 48 frente al 57%; p = 0,03). CONCLUSIONES: El cateterismo cardiaco de esfuerzo es seguro y factible en esta población. La saturación de oxígeno en la arteria pulmonar en esfuerzo podría identificar a un grupo de pacientes con un aumento del riesgo de eventos adversos graves

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Degenerative aortic stenosis (DAS) is the most frequent valvular heart disease. It remains unclear how to identify asymptomatic DAS patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction who have a high probability of event occurrence and would thus benefit from early intervention. Here, we describe a protocol for exercise hemodynamics in true asymptomatic patients with moderate or severe DAS and assess the prognostic value of the data obtained in this population. METHODS: This study involved a prospective single-centre registry of consecutive asymptomatic patients with moderate or severe DAS. Patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing to confirm symptom absence during exercise and then right heart catheterization (RHC) at rest and during exercise. Events were defined as death, surgical aortic valve replacement, or transcatheter aortic valve implantation according to clinical guidelines. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients underwent baseline and exercise RHC. The mean aortic valve area was 1.08 cm2 and the aortic gradient was 39mmHg. The mean pulmonary artery pressure was 21mmHg with a pulmonary artery occlusion pressure of 14mmHg and cardiac output of 5.6 L/min. The mean pulmonary artery pressure at peak exercise was 34mmHg. After a mean follow-up of 27 months, 8 patients experienced an event (24%). There were no differences in baseline variables, aortic valve area, or cardiopulmonary exercise testing parameters between the event and event-free groups. Patients with an event did not have higher pulmonary or filling pressures after peak exercise but had lower pulmonary artery oxygen saturation on effort (median, 48% vs 57%, P=.03). Exercise RHC is feasible and safe in this population. Peak pulmonary artery oxygen saturation might identify patients with increased risk of serious adverse events

Exercise right heart catheterization predicts outcome in asymptomatic degenerative aortic stenosis.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Degenerative aortic stenosis (DAS) is the most frequent valvular heart disease. It remains unclear how to identify asymptomatic DAS patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction who have a high probability of event occurrence and would thus benefit from early intervention. Here, we describe a protocol for exercise hemodynamics in true asymptomatic patients with moderate or severe DAS and assess the prognostic value of the data obtained in this population. METHODS: This study involved a prospective single-centre registry of consecutive asymptomatic patients with moderate or severe DAS. Patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing to confirm symptom absence during exercise and then right heart catheterization (RHC) at rest and during exercise. Events were defined as death, surgical aortic valve replacement, or transcatheter aortic valve implantation according to clinical guidelines. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients underwent baseline and exercise RHC. The mean aortic valve area was 1.08 cm2 and the aortic gradient was 39mmHg. The mean pulmonary artery pressure was 21mmHg with a pulmonary artery occlusion pressure of 14mmHg and cardiac output of 5.6 L/min. The mean pulmonary artery pressure at peak exercise was 34mmHg. After a mean follow-up of 27 months, 8 patients experienced an event (24%). There were no differences in baseline variables, aortic valve area, or cardiopulmonary exercise testing parameters between the event and event-free groups. Patients with an event did not have higher pulmonary or filling pressures after peak exercise but had lower pulmonary artery oxygen saturation on effort (median, 48% vs 57%, P=.03). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise RHC is feasible and safe in this population. Peak pulmonary artery oxygen saturation might identify patients with increased risk of serious adverse events.