The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation
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J. Heart Lung Transplant. · Oct 2020
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyA case series of novel coronavirus infection in heart transplantation from 2 centers in the pandemic area in the North of Italy.
Little is known about the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) in solid organ transplanted patients. We here report a series of heart transplanted patients with COVID-19 from two centers of Italy. ⋯ COVID-19 has a significant impact on long term heart transplanted patients. Conversely, SARS-CoV-2 infection seems to have a limited influence on more recent transplants. Our experience may suggest that heart transplantation programs can be maintained even during the pandemic phase if specific and tailored paths to prevent and to limit virus transmission are provided.
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J. Heart Lung Transplant. · Sep 2020
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialExtended post-ex vivo lung perfusion cold preservation predicts primary graft dysfunction and mortality: Results from a multicentric study.
Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) allows for a reassessment of lung grafts initially deemed unsuitable for transplantation, increasing the available donor pool; however, this requires a pre- and post-EVLP period of cold ischemic time (CIT). Paucity of data exists on how the sequence of cold normothermic-cold preservations affect outcomes. ⋯ Extended cold post-EVLP preservation is associated with a risk for PGD and 1-year mortality. Pre-EVLP CIT does not increase mortality or high-grade PGD. These findings from a multicenter trial should caution on the implementation of extended cold preservation after EVLP.
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J. Heart Lung Transplant. · Sep 2020
Multicenter StudyAge-related differences in hemodynamics and functional status in pulmonary arterial hypertension: Baseline results from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry.
The age of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has increased, with registries now reporting mean ages of 50 to 65 years old. Limited data exist on age-related differences in hemodynamic and functional assessments in PAH. ⋯ Relative to their pulmonary vascular resistance, older patients have lower pulmonary artery compliance and worse right ventricular performance. Based on these findings, we suspect that age influences right ventricular loading conditions and the response of the right ventricle to increased afterload.
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J. Heart Lung Transplant. · Aug 2020
Multicenter StudyArtificial intelligence for early prediction of pulmonary hypertension using electrocardiography.
Screening and early diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) are critical for managing progression and preventing associated mortality; however, there are no tools for this purpose. We developed and validated an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for predicting PH using electrocardiography (ECG). ⋯ The AI algorithm demonstrated high accuracy for PH prediction using 12-lead and single-lead ECGs.
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J. Heart Lung Transplant. · May 2020
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyAmbrisentan in portopulmonary hypertension: A multicenter, open-label trial.
Ambrisentan has shown effectiveness in the treatment of Group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Although portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) is a subset of Group 1 PAH, few clinical trials have been testing PAH therapies in patients with PoPH. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ambrisentan in PoPH. ⋯ Ambrisentan monotherapy in PoPH improves hemodynamics and FC at 24 weeks; however, it did not show any improvement in 6MWD. These preliminary outcomes should be interpreted with caution (Clinicaltrials.Gov:NCT01224210).