Sensitization of renal transplant candidates by cryopreserved cadaveric venous or arterial allografts.

Background: Cryopreserved cadaveric venous or arterial allografts are used in ESRD patients as an alternative to synthetic grafts for hemodialysis access. We evaluated the effect of these allografts on the PRA against HLA class I and II antigens in 11 ESRD patients awaiting a kidney transplant.

Methods: Flow Cytometry using purified antigen coated beads (Flow PRA Beads) was used to determine PRA against HLA class I and II antigens.

The use of inhaled prostacyclin in nitroprusside-resistant pulmonary artery hypertension.

Because nitroprusside NTP infusion used to differentiate between fixed and reversible pulmonary artery hypertension in heart transplant candidates can result in systemic hypotension before reducing pulmonary artery pressures, we observed the effect or inhaled prostacyclin (PGI(2)) on pulmonary artery pressures and transpulmonic gradient (TPG) in patients with NTP-resistant pulmonary artery hypertension. Six patients undergoing evaluation for orthotropic heart transplant (OHTX) with NTP-resistant pulmonary artery hypertension received inhaled PGI(2), with hemodynamic measurements made at baseline, on NTP- and PGI(2) inhaled after returning to baseline. Compared with hemodynamic results with NTP, inhaled PGI(2) caused significant decrease in pulmonary artery systotic pressure, 43.

Stenting unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis in heart transplant patients--the good, bad, and the ugly.

The major cause of late death following orthotopic heart transplantation is coronary artery vasculopathy. Approximately 50% of heart transplant patients have coronary artery vasculopathy 5 years post-transplantation. With advances in interventional cardiology technology, heart transplant patients with selected lesions are now undergoing intravascular stenting with acute-gain and late-loss rates similar to stenting in non-transplanted patients.

Prospective evaluation of the Batista procedure with circulating atrial natriuretic peptides.

A proposed treatment of end-stage heart disease is partial left ventricular resection (i.e., Batista procedure).

Endovascular stenting of an unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis in a heart transplant patient.

Endoluminal revascularizaion of left main coronary artery vessels is considered to be relatively contraindicated because of a high procedural mortality and restenosis rate. This report describes the first successful case of endovascular stenting in an unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis in a heart transplant patient.