Cardiovascular risk stratification in the noncardiac solid organ transplant candidate

Practice in evaluating solid organ transplant candidates and recipients with neurological impairment: The European Academy of Neurology neurocritical care panel survey

BACKGROUND

Brain disorders can occur in the context of peripheral organ diseases as well as solid organ transplants. The aim of this study was to explore the involvement of neurologists in the evaluation and management of solid organ transplant candidates and recipients when a nervous system impairment co-exists.

METHODS

We invited all European Academy of Neurology members to answer a web-based survey. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results.

RESULTS

In total, 176 respondents completed the survey; neurologists are more involved in the evaluation of neurological complications after (31.8%) than before an organ transplant (21%), when they see a small volume of patients, and mainly for neurological comorbidities. A minority (9%) of neurologists received a specific training on the topic of neurological manifestations of extracranial conditions as well as only 6.2% of them are involved in research activities in the brain-body interactions field.

CONCLUSION

This survey highlights a mismatch between the impressive statistics on brain dysfunction in peripheral organ diseases as well as transplant and the small volume of solid organ transplant candidates/recipients seen by neurologists. According to recent recommendations every organ-eligible candidates should undergo a cognitive screening, however, it is not common that neurologists are involved in the multidisciplinary committee to determine the transplant eligibility. Delirium is the most frequent reason for a neurological consultation after a transplant, but also other critical brain conditions. Educational programs in the field of neurology of systemic diseases are worth being implemented as well as including neurologists in research programs on brain-body interactions.

Type A Aortic Dissection Following Abdominal Solid Organ Transplantation: Population-Level Outcomes in the United States

BACKGROUND

This study aims to analyze the patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, and contemporary trends concerning type A aortic dissection (TAAD) in previous recipients of abdominal solid organ transplantation (ASOT) in the United States.

METHODS

The National Inpatient Sample was queried to identify all patients aged ≥18 with TAAD and a history of ASOT (TAAD-ASOT) between 2002 and 2015Q3 using ICD-9 diagnosis and procedure codes. Baseline characteristics and in-hospital outcomes were compared between TAAD-ASOT patients and TAAD patients without a history of ASOT (TAAD-non-ASOT).

RESULTS

We identified a weighted total of 71 061 TAAD patients. Among them, 346 (0.49%) were ASOT recipients; of these, 318 (91.9%) were kidney transplant recipients, and 28 (8.1%) were liver transplant recipients. There is an increasing trend in the incidence of TAAD among ASOT recipients over the study period (p-trend < 0.001). Compared to TAAD-non-ASOT patients, TAAD-ASOT patients were younger (54.7 vs. 60.7 years, p < 0.001), less likely to be White (53.8% vs. 69.1%, p = 0.008), and associated with a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (3.79 vs. 2.26, p < 0.001). TAAD-ASOT patients also exhibited significantly higher in-hospital mortality (27.4% vs. 17.8%, p = 0.03) and a greater risk of renal complications (53.5% vs. 29.7%, p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis indicated that a history of ASOT was independently associated with an increased in-hospital mortality rate in TAAD patients (adjusted odds ratio = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.01-3.31, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

TAAD-ASOT patients were younger but presented a higher comorbidity burden, an elevated in-hospital mortality rate, and an increased risk of postoperative complications compared to TAAD-non-ASOT patients. The rising incidence and unfavorable outcomes emphasize the need for future preventative measures and enhancements in surgical outcomes.

Management of Kidney Disease in Heart Transplant Patients: A National Delphi Survey-based Consensus Expert Paper

Kidney disease is a common complication in heart transplant recipients and requires a comprehensive and personalized approach. The interplay between preexisting kidney disease, perioperative factors, immunosuppression, and cardiovascular complications makes the management of kidney dysfunction challenging in these patients. The objective of this expert consensus was to look for agreements for the management of chronic kidney disease in heart transplant recipients. A panel of Spanish cardiologists and nephrologists with expertise in heart and kidney transplantation reviewed the evidence related to the current management of chronic kidney disease in heart transplant recipients and consensus statements were developed using a 2-round Delphi methodology. Consensus statements were proposed covering key topics, including the identification and management of kidney disease in heart transplant recipients and the indications for kidney transplantation. These statements provide additional expert guidance for the management of kidney disease in patients undergoing heart transplantation where published clinical evidence is scarce.

Liver Transplantation and the Older Adults Candidate: Perioperative Considerations

Pioneered by Thomas Starzl in the early 1970s, liver transplant (LT) is nowadays often considered a final intervention and standard of care to cure many forms of acute and chronic end-stage liver diseases. Started in recipients younger than 60 years old, LT indications are now much broader, and at least, one-fifth of the candidates are older than 65 years. Problems associated with ageing and frailty in LT recipients and their impact on the entire perioperative course are discussed according to a modern anesthesiological perspective and the anesthesiologist covering the role of the perioperative (transplant) physician.

Cardiac evaluation of renal transplant candidates with heart failure

Patients with advanced kidney disease are at elevated risk of developing heart failure and appropriate risk stratification is important to permit them to receive kidney transplantation. The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology joint statement provides guidance on risk stratification for the major cause of heart failure for these patients in its recommendations for coronary heart disease. Herein we provide an overview of the available literature on risk stratification for nonischemic heart failure and functional heart disease states such as pulmonary hypertension. Many of these options for optimizing these patients before transplant include optimizing their volume status, often with more aggressive ultrafiltration. Kidney transplantation remains the treatment of choice for patients with advanced kidney disease and cardiac disease, the correction of the azotemic substances with kidney transplantation has been associated with improved survival than remaining on dialysis long-term. The findings in the studies reviewed here are expected to help clinicians refine current strategies for evaluating potential kidney transplant recipients.

Liver Transplantation and the Elderly Candidate: Perioperative Considerations

Pioneered by Thomas Starzl in the early 1970s, liver transplant (LT) is nowadays often considered a final intervention and standard of care to cure many forms of acute and chronic end-stage liver diseases. Started in recipients younger than 60 years old, LT indications are now much broader, and at least, one-fifth of the candidates are older than 65 years. Problems associated with ageing and frailty in LT recipients and their impact on the entire perioperative course are discussed according to a modern anesthesiological perspective and the anesthesiologist covering the role of the perioperative (transplant) physician.

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk as an Emerging Priority in Pediatrics

Over the last decades, childhood and adolescence have emerged as an important window of opportunity to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) later in life. Here, we discuss the underlying advances in the field. First, atherosclerosis development starts as early as childhood. Atherogenesis initiates in the iliac arteries and abdominal aorta and subsequently develops in higher regions of the arterial tree, as has been demonstrated in nonhuman primate studies and human autopsy studies. Obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia at a young age can accelerate atherogenesis. Children and adolescents with obesity have a relative risk of ∼ 2.5 for ASCVD mortality later in life, compared to peers with a normal weight. Conversely, early prevention improves long-term cardiovascular outcomes. Second, we review disease-associated factors that add to the traditional risk factors. Various pediatric disorders carry similar or even higher risks of ASCVD than obesity, including chronic inflammatory disorders, organ transplant recipients, familial hypercholesterolemia, endocrine disorders, childhood cancer survivors, chronic kidney diseases, congenital heart diseases, and premature birth, especially after fetal growth restriction. The involved disease-associated factors that fuel atherogenesis are diverse and include inflammation, vascular, and endothelial factors. The diverse and growing list of pediatric groups at risk underscores that cardiovascular risk management has solidly entered the realm of general pediatrics. In a second review in this series, we will, therefore, focus on recent advances in cardiovascular risk assessment and management and their implications for pediatric practice.