Gender differences in heart transplantation: Twenty-five year trends in the nationwide Spanish heart transplant registry.

The study of gender differences may lead into improvement in patient care. We have aimed to identify the gender differences in heart transplantation (HT) of adult HT recipients in Spain and their evolution in a study covering the years 1993-2017 in which 6740 HT (20.6% in women) were performed.

Myocardial deformation and acute cellular rejection after heart transplantation: Impact of inter-vendor variability in diagnostic effectiveness.

Purpose: Our objective was to investigate the impact of inter-vendor variability in the ability of myocardial strain analysis to detect acute cellular rejection (ACR) in heart transplant recipients.

Methods: We performed serial echocardiographic examinations in 18 consecutive adult heart transplanted patients, in their first year post-transplantation, within 3 hours of the routine surveillance endomyocardial biopsies (EMB) in a single center. Myocardial strain was analyzed using two software in two different institutions, and inter-vendor variability of strain values and its association with ACR (any grade or grade ≥2R) was investigated.

Conversion From Immediate-Release Tacrolimus to Prolonged-Release Tacrolimus in Stable Heart Transplant Patients: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Lifelong adherence with post-transplant immunosuppression is challenging, with nonadherence associated with greater acute rejection (AR) risk.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated conversion from immediate-release tacrolimus (IRT) to prolonged-release tacrolimus (PRT), between January 2008 and December 2012 in stable adult heart transplant recipients. Cumulative incidence rate (IR) of AR and infection pre- and postconversion, safety, tacrolimus dose and trough levels, concomitant immunosuppression, and PRT discontinuation were analyzed (intention-to-treat population).

Spanish Heart Transplantation Registry. 27th Official Report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation (1984-2015).

Introduction And Objectives: The present article reports the characteristics and results of heart transplants in Spain since this therapeutic modality was first used in May 1984.

Methods: We describe the main features of recipients, donors, surgical procedures, and results of all heart transplants performed in Spain until December 31, 2015.

Results: A total of 299 cardiac transplants were performed in 2015, with the whole series comprising 7588 procedures.

Twelve-month efficacy and safety of the conversion to everolimus in maintenance heart transplant recipients.

Aim: To determine the clinical reasons for conversion to everolimus (EVL) and long-term outcomes in heart transplant (HT) recipients.

Methods: A retrospective 12-mo study has been carried out in 14 Spanish centres to assess the efficacy and safety of conversion to EVL in maintenance HT recipients.

Results: Two hundred and twenty-two patients were included (mean age: 53 ± 10.

Association of cardiac resynchronization therapy with the incidence of appropriate implantable cardiac defibrillator therapies in ischaemic and non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) reduces the incidence of sudden cardiac death and the use of appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapies (AICDTs); however, this antiarrhythmic effect is only observed in certain groups of patients. To gain insight into the effects of CRT on ventricular arrhythmia (VA) burden, we compared the incidence of AICDT use in four groups of patients: patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy vs. non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDC) and patients implanted with an ICD vs.

Spanish Heart Transplantation Registry. 26th Official Report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation (1984-2014).

Introduction And Objectives: We present the characteristics and outcomes of heart transplantation in Spain since it was first performed in 1984.

Methods: A descriptive analysis of the characteristics of recipients, donors, the surgical procedure, and the outcomes of heart transplantations performed in Spain until 31 December 2014.

Results: In 2014, 266 procedures were performed, making a time series of 7289 transplantations.

Spanish Heart Transplantation Registry. 25th official report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation (1984-2013).

Introduction And Objectives: The present article reports the characteristics and outcome of heart transplantation in Spain since it was first performed in May 1984.

Methods: We provide a descriptive analysis of the characteristics of the recipients, the donors, the surgical procedure, and results of the heart transplantations performed in Spain until 31 December 2013.

Results: During 2013, a total of 248 transplantation procedures were carried out, bringing the time series to a total of 7023 transplantations.

Donor/recipient sex mismatch and survival after heart transplantation: only an issue in male recipients? An analysis of the Spanish Heart Transplantation Registry.

The results of studies on the association between sex mismatch and survival after heart transplantation are conflicting. Data from the Spanish Heart Transplantation Registry. From 4625 recipients, 3707 (80%) were men.

Impact of asymptomatic acute cellular rejection on left ventricle myocardial function evaluated by means of two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in heart transplant recipients.

Background: Our objective was to evaluate the impact of asymptomatic acute cellular rejection (ACR) in left ventricular myocardial strain in heart transplant (HT) recipients by means of two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE).

Methods: From September 1, 2009 to December 15, 2010 a conventional echocardiography and 2DSTE exam was performed on all consecutive HT recipients in their first year posttransplantation within 3 hours of the surveillance endomyocardial biopsies, as well as on 14 healthy controls. The association of strain echocardiographic variables with different grades of ACR was investigated.

Spanish Heart Transplantation Registry. 24th official report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation (1984-2012).

Introduction And Objectives: The present article reports the characteristics and results of heart transplantation in Spain since this therapeutic modality was first used in May 1984.

Methods: We summarize the main features of recipients, donors, and surgical procedures, as well as the results of all heart transplantations performed in Spain until December 31, 2012.

Results: A total of 247 heart transplantations were performed in 2012.

Primary graft failure after heart transplantation: characteristics in a contemporary cohort and performance of the RADIAL risk score.

Background: Primary graft failure (PGF) is the leading cause of early heart transplantation (HT) mortality. Our aim was to analyze PGF currently and explore the ability of a dedicated score for PGF risk stratification.

Methods: After applying a dedicated PGF definition, we analyzed its incidence, mortality, and associated factors in a multicenter cohort of 857 HTs performed in 2006 to 2009.

Rejection after conversion to a proliferation signal inhibitor in chronic heart transplantation.

We sought to determine the incidence, risk factors, and consequences of acute rejection (AR) after conversion from a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) to a proliferation signal inhibitor (PSI) in maintenance heart transplantation. Relevant clinical data were retrospectively obtained for 284 long-term heart transplant recipients from nine centers in whom CNIs were replaced with a PSI (sirolimus or everolimus) between October 2001 and March 2009. The rejection rate at one yr was 8.

Long-term survival in elderly patients with stable coronary disease.

Background: This study aimed to assess long-term prognosis of stable coronary artery disease (sCAD) in patients aged ≥ 75 years and to identify clinical predictors of cardiovascular and overall mortality.

Materials And Methods: From February 2000 to January 2007, 391 outpatients aged ≥ 75 years (median 78 years, interquartile range [IQR] 76-81 years, 66% male) with sCAD were recruited in this prospective cohort study. Associations of baseline variables with long-term cardiovascular and all-cause death were investigated.

Epidemiology and clinical impact of infection in patients awaiting heart transplantation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology and clinical impact of infections in patients awaiting heart transplantation.

Methods: We evaluated all patients considered for a heart transplant in our center over a period of 18 months over a period of 18 months from 2007 to 2009. The patients were followed up for 8 months or until death, transplant, or loss to follow-up.

Spanish registry on heart transplantation. 23rd official report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation (1984-2011).

Introduction And Objectives: The purpose of this article is to present the results obtained from heart transplantation since this therapeutic modality first began to be used in Spain in May 1984.

Methods: A descriptive analysis was performed of all heart transplantations performed until 31 December 2011.

Results: The total number of transplantations is 6528.

Prognostic impact of baseline low blood pressure in hypertensive patients with stable coronary artery disease of daily clinical practice.

The authors' aim was to investigate the prognostic value of first-visit systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) in hypertensive patients with stable coronary artery disease (sCAD) in conditions of contemporary daily clinical practice. From February 1, 2000, to January 31, 2004, 690 consecutive hypertensive patients with sCAD (mean age 68 ± 10 years, 65% male) were prospectively followed in the outpatient cardiology clinic for major events (acute coronary syndrome, revascularization, stroke, heart failure, or death) and associations with baseline SBP/DBP were investigated. At first visit, median SBP/SDP were 130/75 mm Hg (interquartile range, 25-75; 120-140/70-80 mm Hg).

[Spanish registry on heart transplantation. 22nd official report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation (1984-2010)].

Introduction And Objectives: The purpose of this report is to present the results obtained with heart transplantation since this therapeutic modality first began to be used in Spain in May 1984.

Methods: A descriptive analysis was performed of all heart transplantation performed until December 31, 2010.

Results: The total number of transplants is 6291.

Impact of de novo everolimus-based immunosuppression on incisional complications in heart transplantation.

Background: The mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor sirolimus has been associated with an increased incidence of wound-healing complications after de novo heart transplantation. To evaluate the possibility of a similar association for everolimus, we performed a risk-factor analysis to compare the incidence of incision-related wound complications for everolimus with that of other adjunctive drugs.

Methods: Safety data from 1009 heart transplant recipients (n=214, receiving azathioprine; n=84, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF); n=711, everolimus) were reviewed in a post hoc analysis from three randomized, multicenter studies-B253 (n=634), A2403 (n=199), and A2411 (n=176)-in which de novo patients received fixed-dose or concentration-controlled everolimus (target trough, 3-8 ng/mL), azathioprine, or MMF with standard- or reduced-exposure cyclosporine A.

[Changing epidemiology of native valve infective endocarditis].

Introduction And Objectives: The aim of our study is to assess changes in the epidemiologic features of patients with native valve infective endocarditis.

Methods: We analyzed a prospective series of 228 cases of native valve infective endocarditis in non-intravenous drug users attending our center between 1987 and 2009. We compared three subperiods: 1987-1994 (67 cases), 1995-2002 (74 cases) and 2003-2009 (87 cases).

Outcomes and safety of antithrombotic treatment in patients aged 80 years or older with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of oral anticoagulation (OAC) in patients aged ≥80 years with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in daily clinical practice. From February 1, 2000 to June 30, 2009, we enrolled all patients aged ≥80 years with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation attended at 2 outpatient cardiology clinics of a tertiary care university hospital. The patients received antithrombotic treatment according to the recommendations from scientific societies and were prospectively followed, with major events (i.

Spanish Heart Transplantation Registry. 21st Official Report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation (1984-2009).

Introduction And Objectives: The purpose of this report is to present the results obtained with heart transplantation in Spain from the first use of this therapeutic modality in May 1984.

Methods: A descriptive analysis of all heart transplantations performed up to December 31, 2009 is presented.

Results: In total, 6048 transplants were carried out.

Prognostic value of resting heart rate in a broad population of patients with stable coronary artery disease: prospective single-center cohort study.

Introduction And Objectives: Our aim was to investigate the prognostic value of the resting heart rate (RHR) in a broad unselected population of patients with stable coronary artery disease (sCAD).

Method: Between February 1, 2000 and January 31, 2004, 1264 ambulatory patients with sCAD were recruited into the prospective study. Patients were followed up for major events (i.

[Usefulness of brain natriuretic peptide levels, as compared with usual clinical control, for the treatment monitoring of patients with heart failure].

Background And Objectives: Chronic heart failure continues to have a poor prognosis, in spite of advances made in its therapy. It is uncertain whether symptom-guided therapy optimization is the most effective strategy in this setting. The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of a brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)-guided therapy for the treatment of patients with heart failure.

Clinical recommendations for the use of everolimus in heart transplantation.

Proliferation signal inhibitors (PSIs), everolimus (EVL), and sirolimus are a group of immunosuppressor agents indicated for the prevention of acute rejection in adult heart transplant recipients. Proliferation signal inhibitors have a mechanism of action with both immunosuppressive and antiproliferative effects, representing an especially interesting treatment option for the prevention and management of some specific conditions in heart transplant population, such as graft vasculopathy or malignancies. Proliferation signal inhibitors have been observed to work synergistically with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs).