Absolute Lymphocyte Count: a Predictor of Positive Serum PCR for Trypanosoma cruzi in Patients with Chagas Disease Undergoing Heart Transplantation.

Background: It is unknown whether lymphopenia is a risk factor for the reactivation of Chagas disease in heart transplantation (HTx), as recently described in the reactivation of cytomegalovirus in transplant patients.

Objective: To evaluate whether lymphopenia in the perioperative period of heart transplantation is related to early Trypanosoma cruzi parasitemia.

Methods: This observational, retrospective study analyzed a sample from January 2014 to January 2023).

Ivabradine plus conventional treatment vs conventional treatment alone in reducing the mean heart rate in heart transplant recipients: A randomized clinical trial.

The absence of afferent nerves for heart rate (HR) regulation leaves the transplanted heart under the influence of its internal and hormonal control. The HR of heart transplantation (HTx) recipients varies from to 90-110 bpm, indicating a lack of vagal parasympathetic tone. We hypothesized that the reduction in mean HR using an If-channel antagonist (ivabradine) could be effective and safe in HTx recipients.

Benznidazole as Prophylaxis for Chagas Disease Infection Reactivation in Heart Transplant Patients: A Case Series in Brazil.

Background-Patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC) have high mortality, and CC is a common indication for heart transplantation (HTx) in endemic countries. Chagas disease reactivation (CDR) is common after transplantation and is likely to cause adverse outcomes unless detected and treated appropriately. This study reviews our experiences with HTx among patients with CC, and the use of benznidazole (BZ) before transplantation.

Donor hypernatremia and smoking addiction contribute to primary graft failure in heart transplantation.

Introduction: Primary graft failure (PGF) is an important contributor to early mortality, accounting for 41% of deaths within the first 30 days after heart transplantation (HT). Donor hypernatremia has been associated with PGF development. However, controversial data exist regarding the impact of sodium deregulation in patient survival after HT.