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Eberhardt TE, Kim DH, Nethersole S, Pearson GJ. Assessment of immunosuppression induction with basiliximab compared to antithymocyte-globulin in adult heart transplant patients. Clin Transplant 2024; 38:e15332. [PMID: 38804609 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.15332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients undergoing heart transplants are at risk of rejection which can have significant morbidity and mortality. Induction immunosuppression at the time of transplant reduces the early risk and has additional benefits. The induction agent of choice within our program was changed from rabbit antithymocyte-globulin (rATG) to basiliximab, so it was necessary to evaluate whether this had any impact on patient outcomes. OBJECTIVES Our primary objective was to describe rejection, infection, and other outcomes in adult heart transplant patients at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, Canada. METHODS This study was a nonrandomized, retrospective cohort study. RESULTS Sixty-three patients were included with median ages 50 years versus 54 years. More female patients received rATG (20% vs. 42.4%). The most common indication for transplant in both cohorts was ICM (63.3% vs. 57.6%). Patients who received rATG had significantly higher PRA (0% vs. 43%, p < .001). Acute rejection episodes were similar between basiliximab and rATG at 3 months (16.7% vs. 15.1%; p = 1.0) and 6-months (30.0% vs. 18.1%; p = .376). Infections were not statistically different with basiliximab compared to rATG at 3-months, 43.3% vs. 63.6% and at 6-months 60.0% vs. 66.7%). There were no fatalities in either group. CONCLUSIONS Our study did not demonstrate differences in rejection with basiliximab compared to rATG. Mortality did not differ, but basiliximab-treated patients had fewer infections and infection-related hospitalizations than those treated with rATG. Larger studies with longer durations are needed to more completely describe the differences in rejection and infectious outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel H Kim
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Division of Cardiology, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Shannon Nethersole
- Transplant Services, University of Alberta Hospital, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Glen J Pearson
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Division of Cardiology, Edmonton, Canada
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Foroutan F, Guyatt G, Stehlik J, Gustafsson F, Greig D, McDonald M, Bertolotti AM, Kugathasan L, Rayner DG, Cuello CA, Cook A, Zlatanoski D, Ram S, Demas-Clarke P, Kozuszko S, Alba AC. Use of induction therapy post-heart transplantation: Clinical practice recommendations based on systematic review and network meta-analysis of evidence. Clin Transplant 2024; 38:e15270. [PMID: 38445536 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.15270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of induction therapy (IT) agents in the early post-heart transplant period remains controversial. The following recommendations aim to provide guidance on the use of IT agents, including Basiliximab and Thymoglobulin, as part of routine care in heart transplantation (HTx). METHODS We recruited an international, multidisciplinary panel of 15 stakeholders, including patient partners, transplant cardiologists and surgeons, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and methodologists. We commissioned a systematic review on benefits and harms of IT on patient-important outcomes, and another on patients' values and preferences to inform our recommendations. We used the GRADE framework to summarize our findings, rate certainty in the evidence, and develop recommendations. The panel considered the balance between benefits and harms, certainty in the evidence, and patient's values and preferences, to make recommendations for or against the routine post-operative use of Thymoglobulin or Basiliximab. RESULTS The panel made recommendations on three major clinical problems in HTx: (1) We suggest against the routine post-operative use of Basiliximab compared to no IT, (2) we suggest against the routine use of Thymoglobulin compared to no IT, and (3) for those patients for whom IT is deemed desirable, we suggest for the use of Thymoglobulin as compared to Basiliximab. CONCLUSION This report highlights gaps in current knowledge and provides directions for clinical research in the future to better understand the clinical utility of IT agents in the early post heart transplant period, leading to improved management and care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farid Foroutan
- Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gordon Guyatt
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Josef Stehlik
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Finn Gustafsson
- Rigshospitalet - Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Douglas Greig
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Michael McDonald
- Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Lakshmi Kugathasan
- Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel G Rayner
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carlos A Cuello
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amanda Cook
- Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Darko Zlatanoski
- Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sujivan Ram
- Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Stella Kozuszko
- Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ana Carolina Alba
- Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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3
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Gupta SK, Mostofsky E, Motiwala SR, Hage A, Mittleman MA. Induction immunosuppression and post-transplant diabetes mellitus: a propensity-matched cohort study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1248940. [PMID: 37929038 PMCID: PMC10623448 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1248940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is a common complication among cardiac transplant recipients, causing diabetes-related complications and death. While certain maintenance immunosuppressive drugs increase PTDM risk, it is unclear whether induction immunosuppression can do the same. Therefore, we evaluated whether induction immunosuppression with IL-2 receptor antagonists, polyclonal anti-lymphocyte antibodies, or Alemtuzumab given in the peri-transplant period is associated with PTDM. Methods We used the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database to conduct a cohort study of US adults who received cardiac transplants between January 2008-December 2018. We excluded patients with prior or multiple organ transplants and those with a history of diabetes, resulting in 17,142 recipients. We created propensity-matched cohorts (n=7,412) using predictors of induction immunosuppression and examined the association between post-transplant diabetes and induction immunosuppression by estimating hazard ratios using Cox proportional-hazards models. Results In the propensity-matched cohort, the average age was 52.5 (SD=13.2) years, 28.7% were female and 3,706 received induction immunosuppression. There were 867 incident cases of PTDM during 26,710 person-years of follow-up (32.5 cases/1,000 person-years). There was no association between induction immunosuppression and post-transplant diabetes (Hazard Ratio= 1.04, 95% confidence interval 0.91 - 1.19). Similarly, no associations were observed for each class of induction immunosuppression agents and post-transplant diabetes. Conclusion The use of contemporary induction immunosuppression in cardiac transplant patients was not associated with post-transplant diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suruchi K. Gupta
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Elizabeth Mostofsky
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Shweta R. Motiwala
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ali Hage
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
- London Health Sciences Centre, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Murray A. Mittleman
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
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4
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Salia S, Mostofsky E, Gupta S, Lehman L, Barrera FJ, Liou L, Motiwala SR, Mittleman MA. Post-transplant mortality and graft failure after induction immunosuppression among Black heart transplant recipients in the United States. Am J Transplant 2022; 22:2586-2597. [PMID: 35758522 PMCID: PMC9643611 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.17130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Black heart transplant recipients are more likely to receive induction immunosuppression compared to other races because of higher rates of acute rejection, graft failure, and mortality. However, it is not known whether contemporary induction immunosuppression improves their post-transplant outcomes. To evaluate whether Black patients who were prescribed induction immunosuppression therapy have lower all-cause mortality or graft-failure rates compared to those who were not, we studied Black U.S. adult heart transplant recipients in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database (2008-2018). We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to compare the hazards of all-cause mortality or graft failure as a composite, for patients who were prescribed induction immunosuppression and those who were not. Among 5160 recipients, 2787 (54.0%) were prescribed induction immunosuppression and 2373 (46.0%) were not. There was no evidence of survival differences according to induction immunosuppression for the composite of all-cause mortality or graft failure (aHR = 1.13, 95% CI 0.96-1.32), mortality (aHR = 1.14, 95% CI 0.97-1.34), graft failure (aHR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.82-1.34) and acute rejection (aHR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.89-1.12). Given the side effects of treatment, future guidelines should reconsider the recommendation for induction immunosuppression among Black patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soziema Salia
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Elizabeth Mostofsky
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Suruchi Gupta
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Laura Lehman
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Francisco J Barrera
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lathan Liou
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Merck & Co., Merck Research Laboratories, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Shweta R Motiwala
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Murray A Mittleman
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
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Nelson J, Alvey N, Bowman L, Schulte J, Segovia M, McDermott J, Te HS, Kapila N, Levine DJ, Gottlieb RL, Oberholzer J, Campara M. Consensus recommendations for use of maintenance immunosuppression in solid organ transplantation: Endorsed by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Society of Transplantation, and the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Pharmacotherapy 2022; 42:599-633. [DOI: 10.1002/phar.2716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joelle Nelson
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmacy Services University Health San Antonio Texas USA
- Pharmacotherapy Education and Research Center University of Texas Health San Antonio San Antonio Texas USA
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacotherapy Division, College of Pharmacy The University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
| | - Nicole Alvey
- Department of Pharmacy Rush University Medical Center Chicago Illinois USA
- Science and Pharmacy Roosevelt University College of Health Schaumburg Illinois USA
| | - Lyndsey Bowman
- Department of Pharmacy Tampa General Hospital Tampa Florida USA
| | - Jamie Schulte
- Department of Pharmacy Services Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | | | - Jennifer McDermott
- Richard DeVos Heart and Lung Transplant Program, Spectrum Health Grand Rapids Michigan USA
- Department of Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Grand Rapids Michigan USA
| | - Helen S. Te
- Liver Transplantation, Center for Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine University of Chicago Medical Center Chicago Illinois USA
| | - Nikhil Kapila
- Department of Transplant Hepatology Duke University Hospital Durham North Carolina USA
| | - Deborah Jo Levine
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio Texas USA
| | - Robert L. Gottlieb
- Baylor University Medical Center and Baylor Scott and White Research Institute Dallas Texas USA
| | - Jose Oberholzer
- Department of Surgery/Division of Transplantation University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia USA
| | - Maya Campara
- Department of Surgery University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Illinois USA
- Department of Pharmacy Practice University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Illinois USA
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Heegaard B, Nelson LM, Gustafsson F. Steroid withdrawal after heart transplantation in adults. Transpl Int 2021; 34:2469-2482. [PMID: 34668614 DOI: 10.1111/tri.14142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Corticosteroids (CSs) are a key component of immunosuppressive treatment after heart transplantation (HTx). While effectively preventing acute rejection, several adverse effects including diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, and hyperlipidemia are associated with long-term use. As these complications may impair long-term outcome in HTx recipients, withdrawal of CSs is highly desirable, however, no uniform approach exists. Previous experience suggests that CS withdrawal can be accomplished without an increase in the incidence of acute rejection and even carrying a survival benefit. Also, common complications related to long-term CS use appear to be less frequent following CS discontinuation. Recipients who successfully discontinue CSs, however, likely belong to an immune-privileged subset of patients with low risk of post-transplant complications. Available studies evaluating CS withdrawal are highly heterogeneous and consensus on optimal timing and eligibility for withdrawal is lacking. Efforts to improve the understanding of optimal CS withdrawal strategy are of great importance in order to safely promote CS weaning in eligible patients and thereby alleviate the adverse effects of long-term CS use on post-transplant outcomes. The purpose of this review was to evaluate different protocols of CS withdrawal after HTx in terms of clinical outcomes and to explore criteria for successful CS withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedicte Heegaard
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Laerke Marie Nelson
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Finn Gustafsson
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Tzani A, Van den Eynde J, Doulamis IP, Kuno T, Kampaktsis PN, Alvarez P, Briasoulis A. Impact of induction therapy on outcomes after heart transplantation. Clin Transplant 2021; 35:e14440. [PMID: 34296798 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.14440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Approximately 50% of heart transplant (HT) programs utilize induction therapy (IT) with interleukin-2 receptor antagonists (IL2RA) or polyclonal anti-thymocyte antibodies (ATG). METHODS Adult HT recipients were identified in the UNOS Registry between 2010 and 2020. We compared mortality between IT strategies with competing risk analysis. RESULTS A total of 28 634 HT recipients were included in the study (50.1% no IT, 21.3% ATG, 27.9% IL2RA, .7% alemtuzumab, .01% OKT3). Adjusted all-cause, 30 day and 1 year mortality were lower among those treated with IT than no IT (sub-hazard ratio [SHR] .87, 95% CI .79-.96, SHR .86, .76-.97, SHR .76, .63-.93, P = .007, respectively). In propensity score matching analysis IT was associated with lower 30-day and 1-year mortality. IL2RA had higher all-cause and 1-year mortality than ATG (SHR 1.41, 95% CI 1.23-1.69 and 1.55, 95% CI 1.29-1.88, respectively). Utilization of IT was associated with significantly lower risk of treated rejection at 1 year after HT compared with no IT (relative risk ratio [RRR] .79) and similarly ATG compared with IL2RA (RRR .51). CONCLUSION IT was associated with lower mortality and treated rejection episodes than no IT. IL2RA is the most used IT approach but ATG has lower risk of treated rejection and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aspasia Tzani
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital Heart and Vascular Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jef Van den Eynde
- The Johns Hopkins Hospital and School of Medicine, Helen B. Taussig Heart Center, Baltimore, USA.,Department of Cardiovascular Sciences KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | - Alexandros Briasoulis
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa, Iowa, USA.,National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
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8
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Corticosteroid Weaning in Stable Heart Transplant Patients: Guidance by Serum Cortisol Level. J Transplant 2018; 2018:3740395. [PMID: 29670764 PMCID: PMC5835262 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3740395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite earlier studies describing the feasibility of steroid weaning in heart transplant patients, the majority of patients are maintained on steroid therapy for life. We examined a strategy based on a single morning serum cortisol measurement. Methods We assigned stable posttransplant patients, who were maintained on tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroids, into one of two groups based on a screening morning cortisol level. Patients with a cortisol < 8 micrograms/deciliter were assigned to a “maintenance” group and the others were assigned to the weaning group and steroids were tapered off over 4–6 weeks. Patients were monitored on subsequent office visits for adrenal insufficiency and allograft rejection. Results Thirty-one patients were enrolled (6 patients in the maintenance group and 25 in the steroid-weaning group). Mean follow-up was 10.2 ± 4 years for the weaning group and 9.0 ± 4.9 years in the maintenance group (p = 0.6). No cases of rejection were noted, nor did any patient resume steroid treatment following discontinuation. Conclusion Steroids can be safely discontinued in stable heart transplant patients with an AM serum cortisol ≥ 8 micrograms/deciliter with appropriate outpatient follow-up. In this study, no patient suffered late rejection or clinically noted adrenal insufficiency.
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Zuckermann A, Schulz U, Deuse T, Ruhpawar A, Schmitto JD, Beiras-Fernandez A, Hirt S, Schweiger M, Kopp-Fernandes L, Barten MJ. Thymoglobulin induction in heart transplantation: patient selection and implications for maintenance immunosuppression. Transpl Int 2014; 28:259-69. [PMID: 25363471 PMCID: PMC4359038 DOI: 10.1111/tri.12480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2014] [Revised: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 10/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Clinical data relating to rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) induction in heart transplantation are far less extensive than for other immunosuppressants, or indeed for rATG in other indications. This was highlighted by the low grade of evidence and the lack of detailed recommendations for prescribing rATG in the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) guidelines. The heart transplant population includes an increasing frequency of patients on mechanical circulatory support (MCS), often with ongoing infection and/or presensitization, who are at high immunological risk but also vulnerable to infectious complications. The number of patients with renal impairment is also growing due to lengthening waiting times, intensifying the need for strategies that minimize calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) toxicity. Additionally, the importance of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) in predicting graft failure is influencing immunosuppressive regimens. In light of these developments, and in view of the lack of evidence-based prescribing criteria, experts from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland convened to identify indications for rATG induction in heart transplantation and to develop an algorithm for its use based on patient characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Zuckermann
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Baraldo M, Gregoraci G, Livi U. Steroid-free and steroid withdrawal protocols in heart transplantation: the review of literature. Transpl Int 2014; 27:515-29. [PMID: 24617420 PMCID: PMC4229061 DOI: 10.1111/tri.12309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2012] [Revised: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Corticosteroids (CSs) are still the mainstay of induction, rescue, and maintenance in heart transplantation (HTx). However, their use is associated with significant and well-documented side effects usually related to the dose administered and the duration of therapy. Moreover, CSs interfere with the recipient's quality of life and with the active process of graft tolerance. Physicians have been exploring ways to avoid or reduce CSs in association with other immunosuppressive drugs, minimizing side effects and costs. The regimens are classified as steroid-free or steroid withdrawal protocols. The studies analyzed in this review come to similar conclusions as benefits and adverse consequences: steroid-free protocols should be advisable and mandatory in pediatric patients, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), presence of infection, familial metabolic disorders/obesity, severe osteoporosis, and in the elderly. On the other hand, steroid withdrawal can be successfully achieved in 50-80%, with late better than early withdrawal, no increase in rejection-related mortality, no adverse impact on survival, and probably a better quality of live. Safety and efficacy can certainly be improved by an individualized approach to the transplant recipient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Baraldo
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Medical School, University of Udine, Udine, Italy; SOC Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, University-Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy
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