Tacrolimus with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or sirolimus vs. cyclosporine with MMF in cardiac transplant patients: 1-year report

Cardiotoxicity of Immune Therapy

The advent of immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, has ushered in a promising new era of treatment of patients with a variety of malignancies who historically had a poor prognosis. However, these therapies are associated with potentially life-threatening cardiovascular adverse effects. As immunotherapy evolves to include a wider variety of malignancies, risk stratification, prompt recognition, and treatment of cardiotoxicity will become increasingly important and hence cardiologists will need to play a fundamental role in the comprehensive care of these patients. This article reviews cardiotoxicity associated with contemporary immunotherapy and discusses potential management strategies.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and myocarditis: a systematic review of reported cases

INTRODUCTION

The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of certain types of cancers has revolutionized cancer therapy. In general, these novel agents are more tolerable and have better safety profiles than conventional chemotherapy agents. Although a low incidence of myocarditis was noted as a side effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors in clinical trials, it is being increasingly cited in the literature as their use also increases.

METHODS

Using a combination of search terms in the PubMed/Medline database and manual searches on Google Scholar and the bibliographies of articles identified, we reviewed all cases reported in the English language citing myocarditis associated with either pembrolizumab, nivolumab, ipilimumab, or any combination of these agents.

RESULTS

A total of 42 cases were included in the study. Mean age was 65.5 years; 64% were male, 36% were female. One or two doses preceded the onset of myocarditis in 33% and 29% of cases, respectively. Steroids were used as the first-line therapy in 90% of cases. Complete heart block occurred in 36% of cases. Fourteen (33%) deaths were reported, with 64% and 29% of deaths occurring after one or two doses, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Most cases and fatalities of myocarditis occurred shortly after initiation of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Arrhythmias, particularly complete heart block, appear to be related to the occurrence of more severe and fatal cases. The use of serial electrocardiograms or biomarkers of myocardial injury may be crucial in detecting early stages of the disease process. Further research establishing more specific guidelines is necessary in dealing with this potentially fatal side effect.

Surgical site infections: Guidelines from the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice

These guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Community of Practice of the American Society of Transplantation review the diagnosis, prevention, and management of post-operative surgical site infections (SSIs) in solid organ transplantation. SSIs are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in SOT recipients. Depending on the organ transplanted, SSIs occur in 3%-53% of patients, with the highest rates observed in small bowel/multivisceral, liver, and pancreas transplant recipients. These infections are classified by increasing invasiveness as superficial incisional, deep incisional, or organ/space SSIs. The spectrum of organisms implicated in SSIs in SOT recipients is more diverse than the general population due to other important factors such as the underlying end-stage organ failure, immunosuppression, prolonged hospitalizations, organ transportation/preservation, and previous exposures to antibiotics in donors and recipients that could predispose to infections with multidrug-resistant organisms. In this guideline, we describe the epidemiology, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, potential pathogens, and management. We also provide recommendations for the selection, dosing, and duration of peri-operative antibiotic prophylaxis to minimize post-operative SSIs.

Advanced Morphologic Analysis for Diagnosing Allograft Rejection: The Case of Cardiac Transplant Rejection

Allograft rejection remains a significant concern after all solid organ transplants. Although qualitative morphologic analysis with histologic grading of biopsy samples is the main tool employed for diagnosing allograft rejection, this standard has significant limitations in precision and accuracy that affect patient care. The use of endomyocardial biopsy to diagnose cardiac allograft rejection illustrates the significant shortcomings of current approaches for diagnosing allograft rejection. Despite disappointing interobserver variability, concerns about discordance with clinical trajectories, attempts at revising the histologic criteria and efforts to establish new diagnostic tools with imaging and gene expression profiling, no method has yet supplanted endomyocardial biopsy as the diagnostic gold standard. In this context, automated approaches to complex data analysis problems—often referred to as “machine learning”—represent promising strategies to improve overall diagnostic accuracy. By focusing on cardiac allograft rejection, where tissue sampling is relatively frequent, this review highlights the limitations of the current approach to diagnosing allograft rejection, introduces the basic methodology behind machine learning and automated image feature detection, and highlights the initial successes of these approaches within cardiovascular medicine.

The authors review “machine learning“ and “automated image feature detection“ to improve the diagnostic accuracy of endomyocardial biopsies to diagnose cardiac allograft rejection.

Safety and Tolerability of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (PD-1 and PD-L1) in Cancer

Immunotherapy has emerged in recent years and has revolutionized the treatment of cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, including anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and anti-programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) agents, are the first of this new generation of treatments. Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents target immune cells by blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. This blockade leads to enhancement of the immune system and therefore restores the tumour-induced immune deficiency selectively in the tumour microenvironment. However, this shift in the balance of the immune system can also produce adverse effects that involve multiple organs. The pattern of toxicity is different from traditional chemotherapy agents or targeted therapy, and there is still little experience in recognizing and managing it. Thus, toxicity constitutes a real clinical management challenge and any new alteration should be suspected of being treatment-related. The most common toxicities occur in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and endocrine, musculoskeletal, renal, nervous, haematologic, cardiovascular and ocular systems. Immune-mediated toxic effects are usually manageable, but toxicities may sometimes lead to treatment withdrawal, and even fulminant and fatal events can occur. Oncologists need to collaborate with internists, clinical immunologists and other specialists to understand, manage and prevent toxicity derived from immunotherapy. This review focuses on the mechanisms of toxicity of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents, and its diagnosis and management.

The change of immunosuppressive regimen from calcineurin inhibitors to mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors and its effect on malignancy following heart transplantation

Malignancy is a significant cause of mortality after organ transplantation. There is an increased rate of malignancy following heart transplantation (HTx) compared to the general population and other organ transplant recipients. Post-HTx patients with a history of malignancy are also at a higher risk of developing new malignancies or exacerbation of their existing malignancies. Mammalian target of Rapamycin inhibitors (mTORIs) are newly introduced immunosuppressive drugs with a unique mechanism of action. By changing the immunosuppressive regimen from classic drugs, especially calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) to mTORIs, the rate of developing de novo malignancies and the relapse of former malignancies is significantly reduced. However, issues like allograft function, total surveillance of patients, and post-transplantation complications should be considered during the conversion of drug regimens utilizing CNIs to drug regimens employing mTORIs. We reviewed different post-heart transplant maintenance immunosuppressive regimens and their effect on post-HTx malignancies with a focus on mTORIs, compared safety against effectiveness, and gathered conclusions based on our review of the literature, which may lead clinicians to make a better evidence-based decision regarding post-HTx maintenance immunosuppressive drug regimens. Overall, CNI to mTORI conversion in post-HTx maintenance immunosuppressive drug regimens was associated with a reduced rate of developing malignancy in post-HTx patients. Furthermore, nephrotoxicity decreased significantly while using mTORIs in combination with lower doses of CNIs and the rejection rate was equivalent to CNI-only regimens. In conclusion, mTORI-based maintenance immunosuppressive drug regimens seem to be safe and beneficial when considering efficacy vs. adverse effects, and all-cause mortality rates are significantly lower in patients switched to mTORIs when compared to CNI recipients.

Optimizing the Safety Profile of Everolimus by Delayed Initiation in De Novo Heart Transplant Recipients: Results of the Prospective Randomized Study EVERHEART

BACKGROUND

Although everolimus potentially improves long-term heart transplantation (HTx) outcomes, its early postoperative safety profile had raised concerns and needs optimization.

METHODS

This 6-month, open-label, multicenter randomized trial was designed to compare the cumulative incidence of a primary composite safety endpoint comprising wound healing delays, pericardial effusion, pleural effusion needing drainage, and renal insufficiency events (estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤30/mL/min per 1.73 m) in de novo HTx recipients receiving immediate everolimus (EVR-I) (≤144 hours post-HTx) or delayed everolimus (EVR-D) (4-6 weeks post-HTx with mycophenolate mofetil as a bridge) with reduced-dose cyclosporine A. Cumulative incidence of biopsy-proven rejection ≥ 2R, rejection with hemodynamic compromise, graft loss, or death was the secondary composite efficacy endpoint.

RESULTS

Overall, 181 patients were randomized to the EVR-I (n = 89) or EVR-D (n = 92) arms. Incidence of primary safety endpoint was higher for EVR-I than EVR-D arm (44.9% vs 32.6%; P = 0.191), mainly driven by a higher rate of pericardial effusion (33.7% vs 19.6%; P = 0.04); wound healing delays, acute renal insufficiency events, and pleural effusion occurred at similar frequencies in the study arms. Efficacy failure was not significantly different in EVR-I arm versus EVR-D arm (37.1% vs 28.3%; P = 0.191). Three patients in the EVR-I arm and 1 in the EVR-D arm died. Incidence of clinically significant adverse events leading to discontinuation was higher in EVR-I arm versus EVR-D arm (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with immediate initiation, delayed everolimus initiation appeared to provide a clinically relevant early safety benefit in de novo HTx recipients, without compromising efficacy.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Associated Myocarditis

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are approved for a wide range of malignancies. They work by priming the immune system response to cancer and have changed the landscape of available cancer treatments. As anticipated, modulation of the regulatory controls in the immune system with ICIs results in diverse immune-related adverse events, targeting any organ or gland. These toxicities are rarely fatal and generally regress after treatment discontinuation and/or prescription of corticosteroids. Recently, several cases of ICI-related cardiotoxicity have been reported with complications ranging from cardiogenic shock to sudden death. The true incidence of ICI-associated myocarditis is likely underestimated, due to a combination of factors including the lack of specificity in the clinical presentation, the potential of overlap with other cardiovascular and general medical illnesses, the challenges in the diagnosis, and a general lack of awareness of this condition. Currently, there are no clear guidelines for surveillance, diagnosis, or management of this entity. There are multiple unresolved issues including, but not limited to, identifying those at risk of this uncommon toxicity, elucidating the pathophysiology, determining if and what type of surveillance is appropriate, optimal work-up of suspected patients, and methods for resolution of myocarditis. Here we describe a clinical vignette and discuss the salient features and management strategies of ICI-associated myocarditis.

KEY POINTS

The incidence of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-associated myocarditis is unclear and has been reported to range from 0.06% to 1% of patients prescribed an ICI.Myocarditis may be difficult to diagnose.The risk factors for ICI-associated myocarditis are not well understood but may include underlying autoimmune disease and diabetes mellitus.The prevalence of myocarditis has been reported to be higher with combination immune therapies.Myocarditis with ICI's typically occurs early, with an elevated troponin, may present with an normal left ventricular ejection fraction and may have a fulminant course.The optimal management of myocarditis associated with ICI's is unclear but most cases are treated with high-dose steroids.

Human polyomavirus-7-associated eruption successfully treated with acitretin

Advances in molecular technologies have led to the discovery of several novel human polyomaviruses (HPyVs), including human polyomavirus-7 (HPyV-7). Although low levels of HPyV-7 are shed from apparently normal skin, recent reports have described clinically significant cutaneous infection in immunocompromised patients that manifests as generalized pruritic plaques. The pruritus can be severe, and treatment options have not been described. Herein we report HPyV-7 cutaneous infection in a heart transplant patient who experienced temporary improvement with intravenous cidofovir, and complete remission with acitretin. We report a case of HPyV-7 cutaneous infection demonstrating a good response to treatment.

Honoring 50 Years of Clinical Heart Transplantation in Circulation

Heart transplantation has become a standard therapy option for advanced heart failure. The translation of heart transplantation from innovative experiments to long-term clinical success has married prescient insights with discipline and organization in the domains of surgical techniques, organ preservation, immunosuppression, organ donation and transplantation logistics, infection control, and long-term graft surveillance. This review explores the key milestones of the past 50 years of heart transplantation and discusses current challenges and promising innovations on the clinical horizon.

The Past, Present and Future of Heart Transplantation

Heart transplantation (HTx) has become standard treatment for selected patients with end-stage heart failure. Improvements in immunosuppressant, donor procurement, surgical techniques, and post-HTx care have resulted in a substantial decrease in acute allograft rejection, which had previously significantly limited survival of HTx recipients. However, limitations to long-term allograft survival exist, including rejection, infection, coronary allograft vasculopathy, and malignancy. Careful balance of immunosuppressive therapy and vigilant surveillance for complications can further improve long-term outcomes of HTx recipients.

Personalized treatment in heart transplantation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We are entering the era of personalized medicine, in which pharmacogenomics and biomarker-based assays can be used to tailor diagnostic tests and drug therapies to individual patients. This new approach to patient-specific care offers the potential to maximize the efficacy of available medical treatments while reducing the incidence of adverse side effects. Here, we present approaches to personalize the care of heart transplant recipients.

RECENT FINDINGS

Four strategies for personalized posttransplant care are described, including use of pharmacogenomic data to individualize the use of immunosuppressive drugs, immune monitoring to prevent acute rejection while reducing the long-term consequences of over immunosuppression, noninvasive surveillance for acute rejection, and targeted prophylaxis against opportunistic infections.

SUMMARY

The long-term survival of heart transplant recipients is limited by side effects of immunosuppressive drugs, including infectious complications, renal dysfunction, and malignancy. We discuss strategies to maximize the benefits of immunosuppressive and prophylactic therapies while minimizing their long-term toxicities.

Lower frequency routine surveillance endomyocardial biopsies after heart transplantation

In heart transplantation (HTx) patients, routine surveillance endomyocardial biopsies (rsEMB) are recommended for the detection of early cardiac allograft rejection. However, there is no consensus on the optimal frequency of rsEMB. Frequent rsEMB have shown a low diagnostic yield in the new era of potent immunosuppressive regimen. Efficacy and safety of lower frequency rsEMB have not been investigated so far. In this retrospective, single centre, observational study we evaluated 282 patients transplanted between 2004 and 2014. 218 of these patients were investigated by rsEMB and symptom-triggered EMB (stEMB). We evaluated EMB results, complications, risk factors for rejection, survival 1 and 5 years as well as incidence of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) 3 years after HTx. A mean of 7.1 ± 2.5 rsEMB were conducted per patient within the first year after HTx identifying 7 patients with asymptomatic and 9 patients with symptomatic acute rejection requiring glucocorticoide pulse therapy. Despite this relatively low frequency of rsEMB, only 6 unscheduled stEMB were required in the first year after HTx leading to 2 additional treatments. In 6 deaths among all 282 patients (2.1%), acute rejection could not be ruled out as a potential underlying cause. Overall survival at 1 year was 78.7% and 5-year survival was 74%. Incidence of CAV was 17% at 3-year follow-up. Morbidity and mortality of lower frequency rsEMB are comparable with data from the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) registry. Consensus is needed on the optimal frequency of EMB.

Risk of early, intermediate, and late rejection following heart transplantation: Trends over the past 25 years and relation to changes in medical management. Tertiary center experience: The Sheba Heart Transplantation Registry

AIM

To explore the trends in the risk for rejection following heart transplantation (HT) over the past 25 years, and their relation to changes in medical management.

METHODS

The study population comprised 216 HT patients. Rejection periods were defined as follows: 0-3 months (early), 3-12 months (intermediate), and 12+ months (late). HT era was dichotomized as follows: 1991-1999 (remote era) and 2000-2016 (recent era). Medication combination was categorized as newer (TAC, MMF, and everolimus) vs older therapies (AZA, CSA).

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis showed that patients who underwent HT during the recent era experienced a significant reduction in the risk for major rejection. These findings were consistent for early (OR = 0.44 [95% CI 0.22-0.88]), intermediate (OR = 0.02 [95% CI 0.003-0.11]), and late rejections (OR = 0.18 [95% CI 0.05-0.52]). Using the year of HT as a continuous measure showed that each 1-year increment was independently associated with a significant reduction in the risk for early, intermediate, and late rejections (5%, 21%, 18%, respectively). In contrast, the risk reduction associated with newer types of immunosuppressive therapies was not statistically significant after adjustment for the treatment period.

CONCLUSIONS

Major rejection rates following HT have significantly declined over the past 2 decades even after adjustment for changes in immunosuppressive therapies, suggesting that other factors may also play a role in the improved outcomes of HT recipients.

Changes in patient characteristics following cardiac transplantation: the Montreal Heart Institute experience

BACKGROUND

Heart transplantation is no longer considered an experimental operation, but rather a standard treatment; nevertheless the context has changed substantially in recent years owing to donor shortage. The aim of this study was to review the heart transplant experience focusing on very long-term survival (≥ 20 years) and to compare the initial results with the current era.

METHODS

From April 1983 through April 1995, 156 consecutive patients underwent heart transplantation. Patients who survived 20 years or longer (group 1) were compared with patients who died within 20 years after surgery (group 2). To compare patient characteristics with the current era, we evaluated our recent 5-year experience (group 3; patients who underwent transplantation between 2010 and 2015), focusing on differences in terms of donor and recipient characteristics.

RESULTS

Group 1 (n = 46, 30%) included younger patients (38 ± 11 v. 48 ± 8 yr, p = 0.001), a higher proportion of female recipients (28% v. 8%, p = 0.001) and a lower prevalence of ischemic heart disease (42% v. 65%, p = 0.001) than group 2 (n = 110, 70%). Patients in group 3 (n = 54) were older (52 ± 12 v. 38 ± 11 yr, p = 0.001), sicker (rate of hospital admission at transplantation 48% v. 20%, p = 0.001) and transplanted with organs from older donors (42 ± 15 v. 29 ± 11 yr, p = 0.001) than those in group 1.

CONCLUSION

Very long-term survival ( ≥ 20 yr) was observed in 30% of patients transplanted during the first decade of our experience. This outcome will be difficult to duplicate in the current era considering our present population of older and sicker patients transplanted with organs from older donors.

Renal function in heart transplant patients after switch to combined mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor and calcineurin inhibitor therapy

BACKGROUND

A calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based immunosuppression combined with mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORs) seems to be attractive in patients after heart transplantation (HTX) in special clinical situations, for example, in patients with adverse drug effects of prior immunosuppression. Previous studies in patients after HTX detected advantageous effects regarding renal function of a tacrolimus (TAC)-based vs cyclosporine-A (CSA)-based immunosuppression (in combination with mycophenolate mofetil). However, data regarding renal function after HTX in mTOR/CNI patients remain limited.

AIM

Primary end point of the present study was to analyze renal function in HTX patients 1 year after switch to an mTOR/CNI-based immunosuppression.

METHODS

Data of 80 HTX patients after change to mTOR/CNI-based immunosuppression were retrospectively analyzed. Renal function was assessed by measured serum creatinine and by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated from Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients received mTOR/CSA-based treatment and 51 patients received mTOR/TAC-based therapy. At time of switch and at 1-year follow-up, serum creatinine and eGFR did not differ significantly between both study groups (all P=not statistically significant). Analysis of variances with repeated measurements detected a similar change of renal function in both study groups.

CONCLUSION

The present study detected no significant differences between both mTOR/CNI study groups, indicating a steady state of renal function in HTX patients after switch of immunosuppressive regimen.

Donor-Transmitted Atherosclerosis Associated With Worsening Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy After Heart Transplantation: Serial Volumetric Intravascular Ultrasound Analysis

BACKGROUND

The influence of preexisting donor-transmitted atherosclerosis (DA) on cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) development remains unclear.

METHODS

We performed 3-dimensional intravascular ultrasound (3D-IVUS) analysis in 42 heart transplantation (HTx) recipients at 2.1 ± 0.9 months (baseline) and 12.2 ± 0.4 months post-HTx, as well as consecutive 3D-IVUS analyses up to 3 years post-HTx in 35 of the 42 recipients. Donor-transmitted atherosclerosis was defined as a maximal intimal thickness of 0.5 mm or greater at baseline. Changes in volumetric IVUS parameters were compared in recipients with (DA group) and without DA (DA-free group) at baseline, 1 year, and 3 years post-HTx.

RESULTS

Donor-transmitted atherosclerosis was observed in 57.1% of 42 recipients. The DA group exhibited a significantly greater increase in plaque volume at 1 year post-HTx (P < 0.001), leading to increased percent plaque volume (plaque volume/vessel volume, [%]) (P < 0.001) and decreased luminal volume (P = 0.021). Donor-transmitted atherosclerosis was independently associated with a greater increase in percent plaque volume during the first post-HTx year (P = 0.011). From 1 to 3 years post-HTx, the DA group underwent continuous reduction in luminal volume (P = 0.022). These changes resulted in a higher incidence of angiographic CAV at 3 years post-HTx in the DA group (58.8% vs 5.6%, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

This volumetric IVUS study suggests that DA correlates with the worsening change in CAV several years post-HTx. Donor-transmitted atherosclerosis recipients may require more aggressive treatment to prevent subsequent CAV progression.

Precision monitoring of immunotherapies in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Pharmacological immunotherapies are a key component of post-transplant therapy in solid-organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In current clinical practice, immunotherapies largely follow a one-size fits all approach, leaving a large portion of transplant recipients either over- or under-immunosuppressed, and consequently at risk of infections or immune-mediated complications. Our goal here is to review recent and rapid advances in precision and genomic medicine approaches to monitoring of post-transplant immunotherapies. We will discuss recent advances in precision measurements of pharmacological immunosuppression, measurements of the plasma and gut microbiome, strategies to monitor for allograft injury and post-transplant malignancies via circulating cell-free DNA, and comprehensive measurements of the B and T cell immune cell repertoire.

Is drug repurposing the answer for cytomegalovirus treatment or prevention?

Medical progress has placed cytomegalovirus (CMV) as one of the most important viral pathogens for which treatment is limited and a vaccine is not yet available. The limited treatment options for CMV triggered efforts to discover new antivirals. Drug screening raised hope but also uncertainties as to whether drug repurposing may be a practical approach for infectious diseases in general and CMV in particular. I summarize here several of such agents as well as an approach to advance repurposing for CMV therapy.

Mycophenolate mofetil as an immunomodulatory silver bullet in atherogenesis?

Atherosclerotic vascular disease is a chronic disorder of the vasculature with a substantial impact on society. Although the availability of statins has represented an unparalleled improvement in the treatment of patients with such cardiovascular disease, even more effective measures are required to reverse this disorder with a continuously growing incidence. The classification of atherosclerosis as an inflammatory disorder has prompted the hypothesis that immunomodulation could comprise a novel anti-atherosclerotic strategy. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has various anti-atherogenic effects on major components of the atherosclerotic plaque such as T-lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages and the endothelium. MMF can inhibit leukocyte recruitment to the subendothelium and the subsequent reduced activation of leukocytes will translate into attenuation of subendothelial crosstalk between T-cells and macrophages. This cascade of events will interrupt the self-perpetuating pro-inflammatory environment within the arterial wall, the hallmark of atherosclerotic vascular disease.

Role of mTOR inhibitors for the control of viral infection in solid organ transplant recipients

Appropriate post-transplant immunosuppressive regimens that avoid acute rejection, while reducing risk of viral reactivation, have been sought, but remain a chimera. Recent evidence suggesting potential regulatory and antiviral effects of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORi) is of great interest. Although the concept of an immunosuppressive drug with antiviral properties is not new, little effort has been made to put the evidence together to assess the management of immunosuppressive therapy in the presence of a viral infection. This review was developed to gather the evidence on antiviral activity of the mTORi against the viruses that most commonly reactivate in adult solid organ recipients: cytomegalovirus (CMV), polyomavirus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). A rapid review methodology and evaluation of quality and consistency of evidence based on the GRADE system was used. The existing literature was variable in nature, although indicating a potential advantage of mTORi in CMV, polyomavirus, and HHV8 infection, and a most doubtful relation with EBV and HCV infection. Several recommendations about the management of these infections are presented that can change certain current patterns of immunosuppression and help to improve the prognosis of the direct and indirect effects of viral infection in solid organ recipients.

Immunosuppression for kidney transplantation: Where are we now and where are we going?

Advances in immunosuppression have propelled kidney transplantation from a scientific curiosity to the optimal treatment for patients with end stage kidney disease. Declining rates of acute rejection have led to improvements in short term kidney transplant survival, culminating in incrementally better long term patient and allograft outcomes. Contextualized around established immune-suppressing drug targets, this review summarizes the history of the clinical science and highlights the pivotal trials that have led to present-day treatment standards at the level of both individual agents and multidrug regimens for kidney recipients. Finally, recently approved and emerging therapies are discussed, with an emphasis on challenges faced by clinicians managing this increasingly complex patient population.

Current diagnostic and treatment strategies for cardiac allograft vasculopathy

Heart transplantation remains the most durable treatment for end-stage heart disease that is not amenable to coronary revascularization or anti-arrhythmic therapies. Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) remains one of the main contributors to morbidity and mortality post heart transplant. Nonimmune and immune factors that influence CAV can be modified after a heart transplant. Given the potential silent nature of CAV in the denervated heart, early diagnosis of CAV is critical. Diagnosis and treatment of CAV remain key areas of investigation to improve patient care and quality of life post heart transplant. While repeat heart transplantation is an option in the treatment of significant CAV, outcomes following retransplantation are inferior to outcomes following first heart transplant. Repeat heart transplantation is limited to a select group of patients after index heart transplant.

Cardiac Transplantation in the New Era

The prevalence of heart failure continues to rise due to the aging population and longer survival of people with conditions that lead to heart failure, eg, hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Although medical therapy has had an important impact on survival of patients and improving quality of life, heart transplantation remains the definitive therapy for patients that eventually deteriorate. Since the first successful heart transplantation in 1967, significant improvements have been made regarding donor and recipient selection, surgical techniques, and postoperative care. However, the number of potential organ donors has not changed and the growing number of patients in need for transplantation has resulted an increase in waiting list time, and the need for mechanical support. To overcome this issue, the United Network for Organ Sharing implemented an allocation system to prioritize the sickest patients on the list to receive organs. Despite the careful selection of patients, pretransplant immunological screening, and multidrug immunosuppressive regimens, acute and chronic rejections occur and potentially limit graft and patient survival. Treatment for rejection largely depends on the type of rejection, the presence of hemodynamic compromise, and time after transplantation. The limiting factor for long-term graft survival is allograft vasculopathy, an immune-mediated process causing diffuse narrowing of the coronary arteries. Percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass surgery are often not an option for this vasculopathy due to the lack of focal lesions, and retransplantation is the only option in appropriate patients.

General Anaesthesia and Emergency Surgery in Heart Transplant Recipient

The number of patients who undergo heart transplant is increasing. Due to surgical emergencies, many of those may require general anesthesia in hospitals where subspecialized anesthetists may not be available. We present a case of a male patient who had heart transplant and required general anesthesia for emergency appendicectomy. Physiology of the heart after transplant, preoperative considerations, and postoperative monitoring has been discussed in our report.

Heart transplantation: review

Heart transplantation is currently the definitive gold standard surgical approach in the treatment of refractory heart failure. However, the shortage of donors limits the achievement of a greater number of heart transplants, in which the use of mechanical circulatory support devices is increasing. With well-established indications and contraindications, as well as diagnosis and treatment of rejection through defined protocols of immunosuppression, the outcomes of heart transplantation are very favorable. Among early complications that can impact survival are primary graft failure, right ventricular dysfunction, rejection, and infections, whereas late complications include cardiac allograft vasculopathy and neoplasms. Despite the difficulties for heart transplantation, in particular, the shortage of donors and high mortality while on the waiting list, in Brazil, there is a great potential for both increasing effective donors and using circulatory assist devices, which can positively impact the number and outcomes of heart transplants.

Chronic renal insufficiency in heart transplant recipients: risk factors and management options

Renal dysfunction after heart transplantation is a frequently observed complication, in some cases resulting in significant limitation of quality of life and reduced survival. Since the pathophysiology of renal failure (RF) is multifactorial, the current etiologic paradigm for chronic kidney disease after heart transplantation relies on the concept of calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-related nephrotoxicity acting on a predisposed recipient. Until recently, the management of RF has been restricted to the minimization of CNI dosage and general avoidance of classic nephrotoxic risk factors, with somewhat limited success. The recent introduction of proliferation signal inhibitors (PSIs) (sirolimus and everolimus), a new class of immunosuppressive drugs lacking intrinsic nephrotoxicity, has provided a completely new alternative in this clinical setting. As clinical experience with these new drugs increases, new renal-sparing strategies are becoming available. PSIs can be used in combination with reduced doses of CNIs and even in complete CNI-free protocols. Different strategies have been devised, including de novo use to avoid acute renal toxicity in high-risk patients immediately after transplantation, or more delayed introduction in those patients developing chronic RF after prolonged CNI exposure. In this review, the main information on the clinical relevance and pathophysiology of RF after heart transplantation, as well as the currently available experience with renal-sparing immunosuppressive regimens, particularly focused on the use of PSIs, is reviewed and summarized, including the key practical points for their appropriate clinical usage.

Advantageous effects of immunosuppression with tacrolimus in comparison with cyclosporine A regarding renal function in patients after heart transplantation

BACKGROUND

Nephrotoxicity is a serious adverse effect of calcineurin inhibitor therapy in patients after heart transplantation (HTX).

AIM

In this retrospective registry study, renal function within the first 2 years after HTX in patients receiving de novo calcineurin inhibitor treatment, that is, cyclosporine A (CSA) or tacrolimus (TAC), was analyzed. In a consecutive subgroup analysis, renal function in patients receiving conventional tacrolimus (CTAC) was compared with that of patients receiving extended-release tacrolimus (ETAC).

METHODS

Data from 150 HTX patients at Heidelberg Heart Transplantation Center were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were continuously receiving the primarily applied calcineurin inhibitor during the first 2 years after HTX and received follow-up care according to center practice.

RESULTS

Within the first 2 years after HTX, serum creatinine increased significantly in patients receiving CSA (P<0.0001), whereas in patients receiving TAC, change of serum creatinine was not statistically significant (P=not statistically significant [ns]). McNemar's test detected a significant accumulation of patients with deterioration of renal function in the first half year after HTX among patients receiving CSA (P=0.0004). In patients receiving TAC, no significant accumulation of patients with deterioration of renal function during the first 2 years after HTX was detectable (all P=ns). Direct comparison of patients receiving CTAC versus those receiving ETAC detected no significant differences regarding renal function between patients primarily receiving CTAC or ETAC treatment during study period (all P=ns).

CONCLUSION

CSA is associated with a more pronounced deterioration of renal function, especially in the first 6 months after HTX, in comparison with patients receiving TAC as baseline immunosuppressive therapy.

Peri-operative kidney injury and long-term chronic kidney disease following orthotopic heart transplantation in children

Significant advances in cardiac intensive care including extracorporeal life support have enabled children with complex congenital heart disease and end-stage heart failure to be supported while awaiting transplantation. With an increasing number of survivors after heart transplantation in children, the complications from long-term immunosuppression, including renal insufficiency, are becoming more apparent. Severe renal dysfunction after heart transplant is defined by a serum creatinine level >2.5 mg/dL (221 μmol/L), and/or need for dialysis or renal transplant. The degree of renal dysfunction is variable and is progressive over time. About 3-10 % of heart transplant recipients will go on to develop severe renal dysfunction within the first 10 years post-transplantation. Multiple risk factors for chronic kidney disease post-transplant have been identified, which include pre-transplant worsening renal function, recipient demographics and morbidity, peri-transplant haemodynamics and long-term exposure to calcineurin inhibitors. Renal insufficiency increases the risk of post-transplant morbidity and mortality. Hence, screening for renal dysfunction pre-, peri- and post-transplantation is important. Early and timely detection of renal insufficiency may help minimize renal insults, and allow prompt implementation of renoprotective strategies. Close monitoring and pre-emptive management of renal dysfunction is an integral aspect of peri-transplant and subsequent post-transplant long-term care.

Diagnosis and management of coronary allograft vasculopathy in children and adolescents

Coronary allograft vasculopathy remains one of the leading causes of death beyond the first year post transplant. As a result of denervation following transplantation, patients lack ischaemic symptoms and presentation is often late when the graft is already compromised. Current diagnostic tools are rather invasive, or in case of angiography, significantly lack sensitivity. Therefore a non-invasive tool that could allow early diagnosis would be invaluable.This paper review the disease form its different diagnosis techniques,including new and less invasive diagnostic tools to its pharmacological management and possible treatments.