We aimed to identify combinations of biomarkers to enhance the definition of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) for translational research. Biomarkers reflecting lung epithelial injury (soluble receptor for advance glycation end products [sRAGE] and surfactant protein-D [SP-D]), coagulation cascade (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 [PAI-1] and protei...
Change in serial BNP level is an independent predictor of cardiac allograft rejection. With wide availability, rapid turnaround, low cost, favorable positive predictive value and excellent negative predictive value, serial BNP monitoring has several advantages for non-invasive monitoring of heart transplant recipients for acute cardiac allograft re...
Cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic and metabolically active collagenous network that responds to mechanical strain. The association between ECM turnover and right ventricular failure (RVF) development after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation in patients with advanced heart failure (HF) was investigated. Circulating leve...
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with bare-metal stenting (BMS) has been reported to be associated with high rates of target-lesion revascularization (TLR) in heart transplant recipients. We aimed to assess the outcome of successful PCI with BMS or drug-eluting stenting (DES) in such patients. Ninety-four consecutive heart transplant recipi...
As left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support duration increases, quality of life (QoL) becomes a concern. We reviewed the QoL in patients on LVAD support for >or=1 year. We retrospectively reviewed our prospective database for patients supported >or=1 year by HeartMate pulsatile- (HM1) or continuous-flow (HM2) LVADs from 2000 to 2009. Transplan...
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in lung transplant recipients (LTRs) have been associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Immunoglobulins, ribavirin, and palivizumab are suggested treatments for both pre-emptive and therapeutic purposes. However, in the absence of randomized, placebo-controlled trials, efficacy is controversi...
Cardiac cachexia, associated with excessive activation of the sympathetic nervous system together with immune activation, is an important prognostic indicator in heart failure. Anecdotally, the prevalence of cardiac cachexia appears to be falling, perhaps due to the increased use of beta-blockers. However, chronic heart failure is so common that ma...
In this study we present a series of 5 cases that developed constrictive pericarditis after orthotopic heart transplantation. All 5 patients had pericardial effusion of non-infectious etiology in the early post-transplant period. They subsequently presented with heart failure unresponsive to standard medical management. The diagnosis was made by co...
Identification of modifiable psychosocial characteristics related to survival of heart transplant (HTx) candidates is needed to prevent clinical deterioration and improve prognosis. A multi-site, prospective study was conducted with 318 HTx candidates (18% female, 82% male; 53 +/- 11 years of age) newly listed at 17 hospitals in Germany and Austria...
The prognostic impact of pulmonary hypertension (PH) before and after heart transplantation (HTx) is debated. We investigated: (i) the significance of pre-operative reversible PH on post-operative survival; (ii) the value of recatheterization while on the waiting list; (iii) the evolution of right heart hemodynamics (RHH) after HTx; and (iv) the pr...
