Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors in left ventricular assist device and heart transplant recipients: a mini-review.

In recent years, sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) emerged as promising therapeutic agents in managing heart failure (HF). They demonstrated a significant impact on reducing HF hospitalizations and related mortality in patients with reduced and preserved ejection fraction. However, evidence supporting their use in patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and heart transplant (HT) recipients is still limited.

Septal Microsphere Embolization in Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy.

Alcohol septal ablation is an established treatment for selected patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOT). The safety and efficacy of septal microsphere embolization (SME) have not been studied. We conducted a retrospective analysis of SME procedures performed at our center from 2006 to 2021 using 75-µm microspheres.

Depression and Anxiety in Heart Transplant Recipients: Prevalence and Impact on Post-Transplant Outcomes.

Background: Depression and anxiety (DA) are common mental disorders in patients with chronic diseases, but the research regarding their prevalence in heart transplantation (HTx) is still limited.

Methods: We performed an analysis of the prevalence and prognostic relevance of DA in patients who underwent HTx between 2010 and 2018 in Germany. Data were obtained from Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse (AOK), which is the largest public health insurance provider.

Sex-Related Differences among Adults with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy Undergoing Transcoronary Ablation of Septal Hypertrophy.

(1) Background: The transcoronary ablation of septal hypertrophy (TASH) is an established therapy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Previous studies on this topic are characterised by a consistent male predominance and show a worse prognosis in females. (2) Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of all TASH procedures conducted between 2006 and 2021 at a tertiary academic centre.

To hit a home run as a heterotopic heart recipient-living with two hearts for over three decades: a case report.

Heterotopic heart transplantation (HHT) is an alternative to the orthotopic technique in selected patients with terminal heart failure. We report the case of the longest survival after HHT, with an uneventful follow-up for over three decades after transplantation. At the age of 25 years, endomyocardial fibrosis following myocarditis rendered the patient's native heart unable to maintain the body's needs.

Diltiazem as a cyclosporine A-sparing agent in heart transplantation: Benefits beyond dose reduction.

Diltiazem (DZ) is widely prescribed in transplant recipients because of its drug-drug interactions with calcineurin inhibitors (CNI). However, these interactions have been primarily investigated in renal transplantation, and data regarding the long-term efficacy and safety of DZ in orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) are still sparse. Our study aimed to elucidate the extent to which the co-prescription of DZ reduces the dose required to maintain adequate blood levels of cyclosporine A (CsA) and the resulting effect on morbidity and mortality in OHT recipients.

Permanent pacing in a very long-term follow-up after orthotopic heart transplantation: A matter of when or why?

Background: Orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) is associated with a high incidence of conduction disturbances (CD) leading to permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation. However, the improved posttransplant survival raises the question about the pacemaker dependence (PD) in a prolonged follow-up.

Hypothesis: The prevalence of PPM in OHT is high but not all patients are PD in a very long-term follow-up.

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy in a long-term follow-up after heart transplantation: Role of remnant cholesterol in residual inflammation.

Background: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a major prognosis limiting factor in heart transplantation (HTx). Disease development and progression are influenced by multiple determinants, but the role of remnant cholesterol (RC) in CAV has not yet been investigated. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the prevalence of CAV in a very long-term follow-up after orthotopic HTx and to examine the role of RC in residual inflammation despite secondary prevention.

Predisposing factors for late mortality in heart transplant patients.

Background: Because of the growing prevalence of terminal heart failure on the one hand and organ shortage on the other hand, an optimal care of heart transplant recipients based on the knowledge of potential risk factors not only early, but also in a long-term course after heart transplantation is of great importance. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify predisposing factors for late mortality in this patient collective.

Methods: Data from long-term heart transplant patients collected during follow-up visits in the current center were retrospectively analyzed.