Strategies for routine biopsies in heart transplantation based on 8-year results with more than 13,000 biopsies

Hausen, B; Rohde, R; Demertzis, S; Albes, J M; Wahlers, T; Schäfers, H J (1995). Strategies for routine biopsies in heart transplantation based on 8-year results with more than 13,000 biopsies. European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery, 10(9), pp. 592-8. Oxford: Oxford University Press 10.1016/S1010-7940(05)80012-0

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The endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) in heart transplant recipients has been considered the "gold standard" for diagnosis of graft rejection (REJ). The purpose of this retrospective study is to develop long-term strategies (frequency and postoperative duration of EMB) for REJ monitoring. Between 1985 and 1992, 346 patients (mean age 44.5 years, female patients = 14%) received 382 heart grafts. For graft surveillance EMBs were performed according to a fixed schedule depending on postoperative day and the results of previous biopsies. In the first year the average number (no.) of EMBs/patient was 20 with 19% positive for REJ in the first quarter, dropping to 7% REJ/EMB by the end of the first year. The percentage of REJ/EMB declined annually from 4.7% to 4.5%, 2.2% and less than 1% after the fifth year. Individual biopsy results in the first 3 postoperative months had little predictive value. Patients with fewer than two REJ (group 1), vs patients with two or more REJ in the first 6 postoperative months (group 2), were significantly less likely to reject in the second half of the first year (group 1: 0.29 +/- 0.6 REJ/patient; group 2:0.83 +/- 1.3 REJ/patient; P < 0.001) and third postoperative year (group 1:0.12 +/- 0.33 REJ/patients; group 2:0.46 +/- 0.93 REJ/patient; P < 0.05). In conclusion, routine EMBs in the first 3 postoperative months have only limited predictive value, however the number of routine EMBs can be drastically reduced later depending on the intermediate postoperative REJ pattern.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Faculty Institutions > Teaching Staff, Faculty of Medicine

UniBE Contributor:

Demertzis, Stefanos

ISSN:

1010-7940

ISBN:

8562106

Publisher:

Oxford University Press

Language:

English

Submitter:

Factscience Import

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 15:08

Last Modified:

08 Dec 2022 16:03

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/S1010-7940(05)80012-0

PubMed ID:

8562106

Web of Science ID:

A1995TC57700015

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/29690

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/29690 (FactScience: 157848)

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