Prognostic value of glomerular filtration rate 1 year after heart transplantation

Invasive haemodynamics in de novo everolimus vs. calcineurin inhibitor heart transplant recipients

Aims

Invasive haemodynamic profiles at rest and during exercise after heart transplantation (HTx) have never been described in a randomized trial where de novo everolimus (EVR)‐based therapy with early calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) withdrawal has been compared with conventional CNI treatment. We report central invasive haemodynamic parameters at rest and exercise during a 3 year follow‐up after HTx in a sub‐study of the SCandiavian Heart transplant Everolimus De novo stUdy with earLy calcineurin inhibitor avoidancE trial. We hypothesized that the nephroprotective properties, the less development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), and the antifibrotic properties of EVR, in comparison with CNI‐based immunosuppression, would demonstrate favourable invasive haemodynamic profiles in patients at rest and during exercise.

Methods and results

Ninety of 115 HTx recipients randomized to EVR or CNI treatment performed right heart catheterization at rest and 68 performed right heart catheterization at exercise up to 3 years after HTx. Haemodynamic profiles were compared between EVR and CNI treatment groups. Resting haemodynamics improved in both groups from pre‐HTx to the first follow‐up at 7–11 weeks post‐HTx and thereafter remained unchanged up to 3 years of follow‐up. During follow‐up, cardiac reserve during exercise increased with higher levels of maximum heart rate (118 to 148 b.p.m., P < 0.001), mean arterial pressure (103 to 128 mmHg, P < 0.001), and cardiac output (10.3 to 12.2 l/min, P < 0.001). No significant differences in haemodynamic parameters were observed between the EVR and CNI groups at rest or exercise. Isolated post‐capillary pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary arterial pressure > 20 mmHg, pulmonary arterial wedge pressure ≥ 15 mmHg, and pulmonary vascular resistance <3) were measured in 11% of the patients at 7–11 weeks, 5% at 12 months, and 6% at 36 months after HTx. The EVR group had significantly better kidney function (76 mL/min/1 vs. 60 mL/min/1, P < 0.001) and reduced CAV (P < 0.01) but an increased rate of early biopsy‐proven treated rejections (21.2% vs 5.7%, P < 0.01) compared with the CNI group at any time point. The differences in renal function, CAV, or early biopsy‐proven treated acute rejections were not associated with altered haemodynamics.

Conclusions

De novo EVR treatment with early CNI withdrawal compared with conventional CNI therapy did not result in differences in haemodynamics at rest or during exercise up to 3 years after HTx despite significant differences in renal function, reduced CAV, and number of early biopsy‐proven treated rejections.

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.