Use of aprotinin in LVAD recipients reduces blood loss, blood use, and perioperative mortality

Aprotinin, a bovine protease inhibitor, has been used extensively in patients undergoing cardiac surgical procedures in an effort to minimize blood loss and prevent the complications associated with blood replacement. We sought to evaluate the effect of aprotinin on postoperative blood loss, renal function, and the incidence of right ventricular failure in patients undergoing placement of a TCI Heartmate left ventricular assist device as a bridge to cardiac transplantation. Retrospective data analysis in 142 patients (42 receiving aprotinin and 100 untreated) demonstrated that the use of aprotinin was associated with a significant decrease in postoperative blood loss (p = 0.019) and in the intraoperative packed red blood cell transfusion (p = 0.019) and total blood product (p = 0.016) requirements. A transient, yet significant, increase in the postoperative creatinine level in the aprotinin group (p = 0.0006), but not in blood urea nitrogen level (p = 0.22), was noted. Interestingly, we noted an association between blood loss and the subsequent development of right ventricular failure; patients who required a right ventricular assist device bled significantly more than did those who did not suffer right ventricular failure (p = 0.02). Additionally, aprotinin recipients benefited by a reduction of nearly one half in the incidence of the need for a right ventricular assist device. The incidence of perioperative mortality was reduced in those receiving aprotinin compared with that in untreated patients, (p = 0.05). We conclude that aprotinin is safe and effective in decreasing postoperative blood loss and intraoperative blood product requirements, and in reducing perioperative mortality in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device placement as a bridge to cardiac transplantation.

Surgical management of cardiac pheochromocytoma. Resection versus transplantation

OBJECTIVE

The authors review their experience and that of others who have reported cases in the literature on the surgical management of cardiac pheochromocytomas.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Cardiac pheochromocytomas are rare cathecolamine-producing tumors that can be densely adherent to myocardium. Because resection can be associated with significant morbidity, we sought to determine the best mode of treatment for these difficult tumors.

METHOD

The authors reviewed the experience for management of cardiac pheochromocytomas in their two institutions and those reported in the literature. Follow-up was available for 21 of 26 patients up to 9 years after resection.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients had reconstruction of the native heart; five (20%) died intraoperatively from hemorrhage, one (4%) died postoperatively from sepsis, three (12%) sustained myocardial infarction, one (4%) required a mitral valve replacement, and three (12%) had incomplete resections, two of whom subsequently developed metastatic disease and died. One patient, thought to be a high risk for resection, received an orthotopic heart transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical resection of cardiac pheochromocytomas can be performed successfully. However, resection of lesions that aggressively invade adjacent myocardium is associated with significant mortality and inadequate control of the neoplasm. Cardiac transplantation should be available as an option before embarking on resection, and it should be performed if mandated by intraoperative findings.

Experience with heart transplantation for cardiac tumors

BACKGROUND

Primary cardiac tumors are rare clinical entities. Benign tumors are often amenable to surgical excision, whereas malignant tumors are seldom resectable. Five patients have been reported to undergo orthotopic heart transplantation for inoperable primary cardiac tumors. We review the clinical course of these five patients and present our institutional experience with three patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation as primary therapy for unresectable cardiac tumors.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review and telephone interview, when possible, were used to gather historical and clinical course data.

RESULTS

Of the eight patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation for primary cardiac neoplasms, four had malignant tumors (three sarcomas, one lymphoma) and four had locally invasive neoplasms (three fibromas, one pheochromocytoma). For those patients in whom cardiectomy resulted in surgical margins free of tumor (six of eight), orthotopic heart transplantation provided long-term survival (range 14 to 78 months) without tumor recurrence despite therapeutic immunosuppression. The only death in this group, at 6.2 years after operation, was unrelated to tumor recurrence. The patients with tumor identified at the surgical margins died of metastatic disease at 14 and 15 months after the operation in spite of adjuvant chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

An awareness by clinicians of the presenting clinical picture of these tumors is warranted in view of the potential for cure by resection or transplantation. Patients with benign primary cardiac tumors appear to benefit from the complete resection afforded by cardiectomy and transplantation. The role of transplantation for patients with malignant tumors remains unclear. Additional studies and continued follow-up with serial echocardiography is necessary to further ascertain the role of heart transplantation in the management of patients with primary cardiac tumors.

Increased early mortality in women undergoing cardiac transplantation

BACKGROUND

To evaluate factors that explain sex differences affecting mortality after cardiac transplantation, a retrospective analysis of adult patients undergoing orthotopic cardiac transplantation was undertaken at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The study population consisted of 379 patients (75 women, 304 men) > or = 18 years of age who survived for > or = 48 hours after undergoing orthotopic cardiac transplantation between March 1985 and March 1992. The following were analyzed: incidence of death and treated rejection episodes, donor and recipient cytomegalovirus (CMV) matches, use of OKT3 induction therapy, and donor and recipient HLA mismatches. Women 49 +/- 12 years old and men 47 +/- 12 years old were characterized by differences in race and diagnosis. Women were more likely to be nonwhite (P < .01) and have idiopathic cardiomyopathy than were men (P < .01). A trend toward an increase in first-year rejection frequency was seen in women compared with men (P = .08). Overall actuarial survival was significantly reduced in women after transplantation (P < .05). At 36 months, female actuarial survival was 64 +/- 7% versus 76 +/- 3% for men (P < .05). The majority of patients in this study did not receive CMV prophylaxis. Univariate analysis revealed that only CMV(+) donor status and the use of OKT3 induction therapy affected survival in women. Multivariate analysis revealed a marked reduction in survival in female recipients of CMV(+) donors given OKT3 induction therapy. At 36 months, only 25% of women were still alive compared with 86% of women with neither risk factor (P < .001). Even without OKT3 induction there was markedly reduced survival in women with mismatched CMV status, ie, CMV(-) recipients of CMV(+) donors; 17% survival after 36 months versus 86% in women who were CMV(+) recipients (P < .05). Although at this institution during the study time period, CMV prophylaxis was not routinely employed and OKT3 induction was selectively used in higher-risk patients, conclusions regarding differences in outcome that are sex dependent are valid.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) Women are at risk for reduced actuarial survival up to 3 years after cardiac transplantation. (2) Univariate analysis shows that women are selectively at risk for death when receiving hearts from CMV(+) donors and after receiving OKT3 induction therapy. (3) Multivariate analysis reveals that women are at even greater risk for death when receiving hearts from CMV(+) donors in conjunction with OKT3 induction therapy. (4) In the absence of OKT3 use, the greatest risk of death occurs in CMV(-) women transplanted with CMV(+) donor hearts. (5) When female to male survival curves are compared, factors that influenced survival in women did not appear to be problematic in men.

Correlative morphologic and molecular genetic analysis demonstrates three distinct categories of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders

The posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PT-LPDs) are a morphologically heterogeneous group of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-driven lymphoid proliferations of varying clonal composition. Some PT-LPDs regress after a reduction in immunosuppression, while others progress in spite of aggressive therapy. Previously defined morphologic categories do not correlate with clonality, and neither morphology nor clonality has reliably predicted the clinical behavior of PT-LPDs. We investigated 28 PT-LPD lesions occurring in 22 patients for activating alterations involving the bcl-1, bcl-2, c-myc, and H-, K- and N-ras proto-oncogenes and for mutations involving the p53 tumor suppressor gene. We correlated the results of these studies with the morphology of the lesions, their clonality based on Ig heavy and light chain gene rearrangement analysis, and the presence and clonality of EBV infection. We found that the PT-LPDs are divisible into three distinct categories as follows: (1) plasmacytic hyperplasia: most commonly arise in the oropharynx or lymph nodes, are nearly always polyclonal, usually contain multiple EBV infection events or only a minor cell population infected by a single form of EBV, and lack oncogene and tumor suppressor gene alterations; (2) polymorphic B-cell hyperplasia and polymorphic B-cell lymphoma: may arise in lymph nodes or various extranodal sites, are nearly always monoclonal, usually contain a single form of EBV, and lack oncogene and tumor suppressor gene alterations; and (3) immunoblastic lymphoma or multiple myeloma: present with widely disseminated disease, are monoclonal, contain a single form of EBV, and contain alterations of one or more oncogene or tumor suppressor genes (N-ras gene codon 61 point mutation, p53 gene mutation, or c-myc gene rearrangement). The PT-LPDs are divisible into three categories exhibiting distinct morphologic and molecular genetic characteristics. Alterations involving the N-ras and c-myc proto-oncogenes and the p53 tumor suppressor gene may play an important role in the development and/or progression of the PT-LPDs.

Use of a pulsatile right ventricular assist device and continuous arteriovenous hemodialysis in a 57-year-old man with a pulsatile left ventricular assist device

BACKGROUND

Despite advances in the perioperative treatment of both heart transplant and left ventricular assist device recipients, right-sided circulatory failure refractory to medical management remains a major source of morbidity in the immediate postoperative period. In addition, hypervolemia is a frequent complication encountered in the treatment of these patients because of their large fluid intake requirements and relative potential for kidney failure.

METHODS

Previous reports have documented the use of continuous-flow devices to support the failing right-sided circulation of patients after both left ventricular assist device insertion and orthotopic heart transplantation. However, such continuous-flow devices may carry the attendant risks of hemolysis and bleeding and may further require 24-hour monitoring by trained personnel. We report the temporary-use pulsatile Abiomed BVS 5000 right ventricular assist device and continuous arteriovenous hemodialysis in the recipient of a pulsatile TCI HeartMate 1000 IP left ventricular assist device both after left ventricular assist device implantation and after orthotopic heart transplantation.

RESULTS

The patient was well at 13 months follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of right ventricular assist devices and continuous arteriovenous hemodialysis in both transplant and left ventricular assist device recipients undoubtedly will remain important as the popularity of these two therapeutic modalities continues to grow.

Selection criteria for placement of left ventricular assist devices

The 2,000 heart donors available annually continue to be inadequate for the 50,000 patients with end-stage congestive heart failure who require heart transplantation to survive. This discrepancy has led to the successful use of long-term implantable LVADs as a bridge to transplantation and has raised the issue of permanent device implantation in lieu of transplantation. The recent support by Food and Drug Administration medical advisory panel for widespread release of an implantable, long-term LVAD as a bridge to transplantation makes more widespread of the devices likely and mandates improved clinician awareness of the benefits and limitations of this new technology. We outline our indications and contraindications for insertion of implantable LVADs based on our 4-year clinical experience with 29 patients.

Malignant ventricular arrhythmias are well tolerated in patients receiving long-term left ventricular assist devices

OBJECTIVES

We sought to quantitate the incidence of malignant ventricular arrhythmias and to identify subsequent hemodynamic changes and untoward events in patients who have received an implantable left ventricular circulatory assist device as an extended bridge to heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND

Implantable long-term mechanical circulatory assist devices have been used clinically with increasing frequency and success for the past 4 years. Previous investigators have suggested that patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias receiving a left ventricular assist device will require both left and right ventricular assistance to maintain vital organ perfusion.

METHODS

We reviewed our 4-year experience with 21 patients who underwent implantation of a left ventricular assist device. Device flows and mean arterial pressure were used to assess systemic perfusion; central venous pressure provided a gauge of right ventricular function. Charts were screened for evidence of end-organ injury resulting from malignant ventricular arrhythmias.

RESULTS

Malignant ventricular arrhythmias occurred in 4 patients (19%) before device placement and in 9 patients (43%) during device support. The latter nine patients formed the final study group; their arrhythmias occurred 0 to 186 days after device implantation and had a duration of 10 min to 12 days. The patients reported weakness or palpitation; however, none reported syncope or dyspnea. Mean arterial pressure and central venous pressure were insignificantly changed by the arrhythmias. Device flow decreased by 1.4 +/- 0.6 liters/min (p < 0.05) at the onset of the arrhythmias but returned to normal after cardioversion. No thromboembolic events or significant end-organ dysfunction occurred.

CONCLUSION

Absence of right ventricular contraction during malignant ventricular arrhythmias is well tolerated in recipients of a left ventricular assist device. The diagnosis of malignant arrhythmia should be suspected if an unexplained decrease in left ventricular assist device flow occurs. Early electrical cardioversion is warranted to avoid both thrombus formation in the native heart and right ventricular myocardial injury from prolonged fibrillation.

Management of heart failure. III. The role of revascularization in the treatment of patients with moderate or severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction

OBJECTIVE

This article reviews the benefits and risks of coronary artery bypass grafting and angioplasty for patients with moderate or severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction and summarizes the recommendations of the expert panel for the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research Heart Failure Guideline.

DATA SOURCES

Data were obtained from studies published in English and referenced in MEDLINE or EMBASE between 1966 and 1993. We used the search terms heart failure, congestive; congestive heart failure; heart failure; cardiac failure; and dilated cardiomyopathy in conjunction with the terms coronary artery bypass grafting and angioplasty.

STUDY SELECTION

All cohort studies and case series that provided separate outcomes data on a subgroup of patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction less than 0.40 were reviewed.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Studies were reviewed for inclusion and exclusion criteria, survival, and functional status measures using a standardized form. Cohort studies were assessed on eight aspects of study quality using a defined list of study flaws.

CONCLUSION

Coronary artery bypass grafting improves 3-year survival by approximately 30% to 50% and physical functioning by approximately one New York Heart Association class in patients with moderate to severe left ventricular dysfunction and limiting angina. However, the operative mortality ranges from 5% to 30% depending on patients' ejection fractions and comorbidity. It is not clear whether patients whose predominant symptom is heart failure rather than angina benefit from bypass surgery or how much ischemia is required to justify surgical intervention. Clinical outcomes after angioplasty have not been adequately studied to determine the relative risks and benefits compared with bypass grafting.

Artificial circulatory support with textured interior surfaces. A counterintuitive approach to minimizing thromboembolism

BACKGROUND

Although numerous left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have been used clinically, frequent thromboembolic complications have been reported despite the smooth interior LVAD surfaces and systemic anticoagulant medication. In contrast, the Thermo Cardiosystems HeartMate 1000 IP LVAD has textured interior surfaces that are promptly covered by a densely adherent neointima. We hypothesize that elimination of a direct interface between prosthetic material and blood elements reduces the risk of peripheral embolization and minimizes the necessity for systemic anticoagulant medication. This report defines the thromboembolic risk of this type of LVAD and characterizes the nature and effectiveness of the various anticoagulation regimens that were tested during the initial clinical trial with this device.

METHODS AND RESULTS

All values are reported as mean +/- SD. Fifty-four males and three females with an average age of 47 +/- 11 years were supported with the HeartMate 1000 IP LVAD for an average of 62 +/- 76 days at 11 clinical centers in the United States. Patients were prospectively evaluated for thromboembolic complications. Five different anticoagulation regimens were used during the first 4 postoperative weeks: no anticoagulants, low-molecular-weight dextran, heparin, dipyridamole plus aspirin, or miscellaneous agents. After the first 4 weeks, the patients were treated with aspirin plus dipyridamole or miscellaneous agents. Prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), and fibrinogen values for the patients were measured at 0.1, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 32, and 46 weeks during support. Two patients (3.5%) suffered thromboembolic cerebrovascular complications, an incidence of 0.2 episodes per patient-year of observation. One episode was due to fungal vegetation developing on the device and the other was due to embolization from a previously placed native mechanical aortic valve prosthesis. In the absence of infection, there were no device-related thromboembolic complications. Mean prothrombin time for all groups was 13.3 +/- 0.5 seconds with no significant intergroup differences. Mean partial thromboplastin time during the first 4 weeks for the heparin-treated group was 53.3 +/- 6.6 seconds, which was significantly longer than for all other groups, but fell to control values after heparin was discontinued at 4 weeks. Mean fibrinogen level for all groups was 370 +/- 48 mg/dL, with no intergroup differences.

CONCLUSIONS

The HeartMate 1000 IP LVAD provides adequate circulatory support with a low risk of thromboembolism despite minimal systemic anticoagulation. The use of textured surfaces may be an important factor contributing to the low observed risk of thromboembolic complications.

Intravascular ultrasound imaging of the Heartmate 1000 IP left ventricular assist device

Left ventricular assist devices are increasingly used as a bridge to transplantation in patients with end-stage cardiac disease. Potential complications of these devices include thromboembolism and infection. Because conventional cardiac diagnostic techniques cannot be used to obtain an image of the interior of a left ventricular assist device, we assessed the ability of intravascular ultrasonography to obtain an image of the interior of the Heartmate 1000 IP left ventricular assist device. Feasibility of intravascular ultrasound imaging was initially demonstrated in vitro on a left ventricular assist device immersed in water. Five soft rubber masses were then placed in the device intake port adherent to the wall, and their images were obtained by intravascular ultrasonography. Excellent correlation between actual size and size as measured by intravascular ultrasonography was noted (long-axis, r = 0.98, short-axis, r = 0.89). After the device was implanted in two calves, intravascular ultrasound imaging was performed in vivo in the animals. The catheter was easily advanced through the device, and excellent images were obtained. In conclusion, intravascular ultrasonography can easily be used to obtain an image of the left ventricular assist device interior and can accurately assess the presence and size of abnormal masses inside the device. Intravascular ultrasonography may be clinically useful in evaluating cases of thrombus or vegetation related to left ventricular assist devices.

Potential of left ventricular assist devices as outpatient therapy while awaiting transplantation

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) increasingly are being used as a bridge to transplantation. We studied changes in New York Heart Association class, mean arterial pressure, resting cardiac output, end-organ function, exercise oxygen consumption, and exercise cardiac output in 12 LVAD recipients. In addition, resting levels of neurohormonal factors were evaluated 4 to 16 weeks after implantation. Two of the 12 patients died of right heart failure and 1 of aspiration; all deaths occurred in the first 2 weeks after LVAD implantation. Of the other 9 patients, 8 improved to New York Heart Association class I and 1 to class II, all of whom were in class IV preoperatively. The 4 patients who underwent exercise testing achieved an exercise oxygen consumption of 15.0 +/- 2.7 mL.kg-1.min-1, which was paralleled by an increase in resting cardiac output from 3.07 +/- 0.9 L.min-1 preoperatively to 5.66 +/- 1.1 L.min-1 at 2 months, and mean arterial pressure from 60 +/- 8 to 91 +/- 10 mm Hg at 2 months, a benefit that was maintained for up to 10 months. End-organ function revealed comparable improvement at 2 months for both creatinine (1.68 +/- 0.7 to 1.0 +/- 0.19 mg.dL-1) and total bilirubin (1.37 +/- 1.17 to 0.54 +/- 0.26 mg.dL-1) levels. Levels of neurohormones were within normal limits. Adverse clinical events after the perioperative period were minimal, and no thromboembolic complications occurred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Exposure of the intramyocardial left anterior descending artery

A systematic approach incorporating several discrete technical maneuvers is described that facilitates localization of the intramyocardial left anterior descending coronary artery. These simple maneuvers reliably afford localization of the initially hidden intramyocardial vessel and are easily incorporated into one's technical armamentarium.

1987: Adjustable annuloplasty for tricuspid insufficiency. Updated in 1994

De Vega described a technique for tricuspid annuloplasty using synthetic suture to reduce the size of the dilated annulus. We present our experience with an adjustable modification of de Vega's suture annuloplasty technique. The records of 12 patients followed for 15 to 30 months were reviewed. All 10 survivors had a significant drop in right-sided filling pressure (average, 39% decrease) and an associated improvement in clinical status. The 2 deaths in the series were not related to persistent tricuspid insufficiency. This technique represents a reliable, rapid, and readily teachable method for the surgical management of tricuspid insufficiency.

Technique for removal of left ventricular assist devices

As the use of long-term implantable left ventricular assist devices increases, more surgeons will be required to remove the devices for transplantation or in the event of infection. We outline several maneuvers that facilitate device removal and several pitfalls that complicate the procedure. Important considerations include preventive measures at the time of device implantation and prevention of air embolism.

Single-stage management of 74 consecutive sternal wound complications with pectoralis major myocutaneous advancement flaps

The optimal management of sternal wound complications remains controversial. Since 1985, we have utilized a combination of immediate, aggressive debridement with simultaneous repair using bilateral pectoralis major myocutaneous advancement flaps, regardless of the degree of infection. As compared with the use of distant pedicled muscle flaps or pectoralis major turnover flaps, the management of complicated sternal wounds with immediate pectoralis major myocutaneous advancement flaps provides an effective yet simpler, quicker method of management with improved aesthetic results. In addition, basing the pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps on the thoracoacromial arteries eliminates the need for intact internal mammary arteries, valuable since the latter are increasingly used for coronary grafts. Seventy-four consecutive patients, 17 (23 percent) of whom were immunosuppressed heart transplant recipients, have been managed with this procedure. There were no intraoperative deaths. The 30-day perioperative mortality rate was 9 percent (7 of 74), with only 1 death related to persistent sepsis. The morbidity rate was 39 percent, with the most common complication being seroma managed by needle aspiration (18 of 74, 24 percent). The aesthetic and functional results have been uniformly excellent.

Preservation of anterior leaflet chordae tendineae during mitral valve replacement

Preservation of anterior mitral leaflet papillary muscle attachments during mitral valve replacement was achieved in 20 patients by excising the central portion of the anterior leaflet and suturing the rim of leaflet tissue containing marginal chordae to the remaining edge of leaflet attached to the left atrium. This closure tacks the chordae to the fibrous trigones, opens the subvalvular area, and avoids a potentially thrombogenic or obstructive redundant leaflet ridge along the rim of an inserted valve. The technique is simple, safe, reproducible, and teachable.

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders treated with cyclophosphamide-doxorubicin-vincristine-prednisone chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders after solid organ transplantation are a serious complication occurring in 1-10% of patients. Different therapies have been used, but the optimal treatment is unknown. There is relatively little information in the literature on the experience with cytotoxic chemotherapy.

METHODS

The disease stage of patients with biopsy-documented posttransplantation lymphoproliferative was determined with standard methods to establish the extent of the disease. Patients in whom the disease failed to regress after initial management, which included reduction in immunosuppression, were treated with a combination chemotherapy regimen consisting of six cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP). Response to therapy was determined by following previously defined sites of disease with appropriate tests. Patients were maintained on a reduced dose of immunosuppressants.

RESULTS

In the four patients studied, lymphoproliferative disorders developed after heart (three cases) or lung (one case) transplantation, which did not regress after immunosuppression was reduced. All four experienced a complete remission with CHOP chemotherapy, which continued at 3, 13+, 20 and 30+ months after completion of treatment. One patient died of sepsis after completing therapy at a point when his leukocyte count was normal, and no evidence of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder was found at autopsy. A second patient died of liver failure with no clinical evidence of lymphoproliferative disorder.

CONCLUSION

Although this is a small series, it demonstrates that patients with posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders may respond to cytotoxic chemotherapy. The duration of response is undetermined.

Decreasing incidence of coronary disease in pediatric cardiac transplant recipients using increased immunosuppression

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a limiting factor to long-term survival in cardiac transplant recipients, affecting from 30% to 50% of patients by 4 years after surgery. Can the incidence of CAD be lowered with augmentation of immunosuppression?

METHODS AND RESULTS

We compared the incidence of CAD in our pediatric transplant population with nine potential risk factors, including immunosuppressive regimen. The study group consisted of 55 patients who survived more than 1 year (or to first angiogram) or had autopsies. Coronary angiograms were performed yearly and compared sequentially. The mean follow-up of 55 patients was 36 months. Mean age was 10.3 +/- 6 years (range, 4 months to 18 years). Thirteen patients received double immunosuppression with cyclosporine and prednisone, and 42 received triple therapy with cyclosporine, prednisone, and azathioprine. Significant CAD occurred in 10 grafts (6 deaths and 3 retransplants). Cause for graft loss in 6 patients with CAD was acute rejection. CAD was detected by angiogram in only 2 patients. Nine of 10 patients received double therapy (P < .001). There was no difference in mean follow-up between immunosuppression groups. There was a higher rejection frequency for double therapy (0.19 +/- 0.16 rejections per patient month) compared with triple therapy (0.07 +/- 0.11). Ten patients were rejection free in the triple therapy group.

CONCLUSIONS

We experienced a significant decrease in the incidence of CAD in our pediatric cardiac transplant recipients using increased immunosuppressive therapy. Type of immunosuppressive regimen (double) and rejection frequency were independent predictors for CAD by multivariate analysis.