La insuficiencia cardíaca en el año 2005

Induction treatment with monoclonal antibodies for heart transplantation

Individualization of induction therapy for heart transplantation (HT) is needed, given that only patients at significant risk for fatal rejection seem to present a favorable risk-benefit ratio. The question whether monoclonal interleukin 2 antagonists or antilymphocyte antibodies should be recommended remains unanswered. As most studies suggest that they have similar efficacy in preventing acute rejection, other variables related to safety or management costs should be taken into account. The cytokine release syndrome, associated with the use of OKT3, complicates management of HT patient. The experience in our center with 2 consecutive cohorts, treated with basiliximab (BAS) and OKT3, respectively, suggests that the use of BAS is associated, in addition to similar immunosuppressive efficacy and better safety profile than OKT3, with simpler patient management during the initial hospital stay, which could be associated with a reduction in posttransplant costs. Because few centers continue to use OKT3 as induction therapy in HT, more studies comparing cost-effectiveness of BAS vs polyclonal antilymphocyte antibodies (ATG) are needed.

[Altered fibrillar collagen metabolism in hypertensive heart failure. Current understanding and future prospects]

Arterial hypertension induces numerous alterations in the composition of cardiac tissue, which, in turn, result in structural remodeling of the myocardium. This remodeling is due to a range of pathologic mechanisms associated with mechanical, neurohormonal and cytokine processes that affect both cardiomyocyte and non-cardiomyocyte compartments of the myocardium. One of these processes involves disruption of the equilibrium between the synthesis and degradation of type-I and type-III collagen molecules. The result is excess accumulation of type-I and type-III collagen fibers in interstitial and perivascular spaces in the myocardium. The clinical significance of myocardial fibrosis lies in its contribution to the development of cardiac complications in hypertensive patients. This brief review focuses on the mechanisms of myocardial fibrosis and their clinical consequences. In addition, the techniques used for diagnosing myocardial fibrosis and the main therapeutic strategies for reducing fibrosis are also discussed.