Combining donor derived cell free DNA and gene expression profiling for non-invasive surveillance after heart transplantation.

Background: Donor-derived cell free DNA (dd-cfDNA) and gene expression profiling (GEP) offer noninvasive alternatives to rejection surveillance after heart transplantation; however, there is little evidence on the paired use of GEP and dd-cfDNA for rejection surveillance.

Methods: A single center, retrospective analysis of adult heart transplant recipients. A GEP cohort, transplanted from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2017 and eligible for rejection surveillance with GEP was compared to a paired testing cohort, transplanted July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2020, with surveillance from both dd-cfDNA and GEP.

Impact of using higher-risk donor hearts for candidates with pre-transplant mechanical circulatory support.

Background: We evaluated post-heart transplant (HTx) outcomes after use of higher-risk donor hearts for candidates supported with pre-HTx mechanical circulatory support (MCS).

Methods: In this retrospective analysis of the national United Network for Organ Sharing registry, a total of 9,915 adult candidates on MCS underwent HTx from January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2019. Multi-organ, re-transplant, and congenital heart disease patients were excluded.

Impact of diabetes mellitus on clinical outcomes after heart transplantation.

Purpose: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is common among recipients of heart transplantation (HTx) but its impact on clinical outcomes is unclear. We evaluated the associations between pretransplant DM and posttransplant DM (PTDM) and outcomes among adults receiving HTx at a single center.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study (range 01/2008 - 07/2018), n = 244.