BACKGROUND: There is conflicting evidence on the role of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) use in the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). METHODS: A nationwide prospective two-center study investigated changes in the coronary artery vasculature by highly automated 3-D optical coherence tomography (OCT) analysis at 1 month and 12 months after heart transplant (HTx). The influence of ASA use on coronary artery microvascular changes was analyzed in the overall study cohort and after propensity score matching for selected clinical CAV risk factors. RESULTS: In total, 175 patients (mean age 52 ± 12 years, 79% male) were recruited. During the 1-year follow-up, both intimal and media thickness progressed, with ASA having no effect on its progression. However, detailed OCT analysis revealed that ASA use was associated with a lower increase in lipid plaque (LP) burden (p = .013), while it did not affect the other observed pathologies. Propensity score matching of 120 patients (60 patient pairs) showed similar results, with ASA use associated with lower progression of LPs (p = .002), while having no impact on layered fibrotic plaque (p = .224), calcification (p = .231), macrophage infiltration (p = .197), or the absolute coronary artery risk score (p = .277). According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, ASA use was not associated with a significant difference in survival (p = .699) CONCLUSION: This study showed a benefit of early ASA use after HTx on LP progression. However, ASA use did not have any impact on the progression of other OCT-observed pathologies or long-term survival.

• Klíčová slova
• OCT, acetylsalicylic acid, cardiac allograft vasculopathy, lipid plaque,
• MeSH
• alografty patologie   MeSH
• aterosklerotický plát * komplikace   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• koronární angiografie MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci koronárních tepen * etiologie   MeSH
• optická koherentní tomografie škodlivé účinky   metody   MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• transplantace srdce * škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH

AIMS: Diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic kidney disease are prevalent in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We have analysed the impact of co-morbidities on quality of life (QoL) and outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 397 patients (58.8 ± 11.0 years, 73.6% with New York Heart Association functional class ≥3) with stable advanced HFrEF were followed for a median of 1106 (inter-quartile range 379-2606) days, and 68% of patients (270 patients) experienced an adverse outcome (death, urgent heart transplantation, and implantation of mechanical circulatory support). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was present in 16.4%, diabetes mellitus in 44.3%, and chronic kidney disease in 34.5% of patients; 33.5% of patients had none, 40.0% had one, 21.9% had two, and 3.8% of patient had three co-morbidities. Patients with more co-morbidities reported similar QoL (assessed by Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, 45.46 ± 22.21/49.07 ± 21.69/47.52 ± 23.54/46.77 ± 23.60 in patients with zero to three co-morbidities, P for trend = 0.51). Multivariable regression analysis revealed that furosemide daily dose, systolic blood pressure, New York Heart Association functional class, and body mass index, but not the number of co-morbidities, were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with QoL. Increasing co-morbidity burden was associated with worse survival (P < 0.0001), lower degree of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker treatment (P = 0.001), and increasing levels of BNP (mean of 685, 912, 1053, and 985 ng/L for patients with zero to three co-morbidities, P for trend = 0.008) and cardiac troponin (sm-cTnI, P for trend = 0.0496), which remained significant (P < 0.05) after the adjustment for left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, right ventricular dysfunction grade, body mass index, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. CONCLUSIONS: In stable advanced HFrEF patients, co-morbidities are not associated with impaired QoL, but negatively affect the prognosis both directly and indirectly through lower level of HF pharmacotherapy and increased myocardial stress and injury.

• Klíčová slova
• Co-morbidities, Heart failure, Myocardial injury, Myocardial stress, Outcome, Quality of life,
• MeSH
• funkce levé komory srdeční MeSH
• kvalita života * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• morbidita MeSH
• následné studie MeSH
• srdeční selhání * epidemiologie   MeSH
• tepový objem MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies suggested potential positive correlations between HLA-specific antibodies and development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). METHODS: This prospective two-center study investigated early progression of CAV by coronary optical coherence tomography in 1 month and 12 months after heart transplantation (HTx) in 104 patients. Detection and characterization of donor specific (DSA) and MHC class-I polypeptide-related sequence A (MICA) antibodies were performed before, 1, 6 and 12 months after transplantation. RESULTS: During the first post-HTx year, we observed a significant reduction in the mean coronary luminal area (P < .001), and progression in mean intimal thickness (IT) (P < .001). DSA and anti-MICA occurred in 17% of all patients, but no significant relationship was observed between presence of DSA/anti-MICA and IT progression within 12 months after HTx. In contrast, we observed significant association between presence of DSA (p=0.031), de-novo DSA (p=0.031), HLA Class II DSA (p=0.017) and media thickness (MT) progression. CONCLUSION: Results of our study did not identify a direct association between presence of DSA/anti-MICA and intimal thickness progression in an early period after HTx. However, we found significant relationships between DSA and media thickness progression that may identify a newly recognized immune-pathological aspect of CAV.

• Klíčová slova
• Cardiac allograft vasculopathy, Donor specific antibodies, Heart transplant, Intimal thickness,
• MeSH
• alografty MeSH
• dárci tkání MeSH
• HLA antigeny MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• optická koherentní tomografie * MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• rejekce štěpu diagnóza   MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• transplantace srdce * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• HLA antigeny MeSH

INTRODUCTION: Heart rate slowing agents are frequently prescribed to manage heart transplant (HTx) patients with the assumption that higher heart rate is a risk factor in cardiovascular disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective two-center study investigated early progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) in 116 HTx patients. Examinations by coronary optical coherence tomography and 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring were performed both at baseline (1 month after HTx) and during follow-up (12 months after HTx). RESULTS: During the first post-HTx year, we observed a significant reduction in the mean coronary luminal area from 9.0 ± 2.5 to 8.0 ± 2.4 mm2 (P < .001), and progression in mean intimal thickness (IT) from 106.5 ± 40.4 to 130.1 ± 53.0 µm (P < .001). No significant relationship was observed between baseline and follow-up mean heart rates and IT progression (R = .02, P = .83; R = -.13, P = .18). We found a mild inverse association between beta-blocker dosage at 12 months and IT progression (R = -.20, P = .035). CONCLUSION: Our study did not confirm a direct association between mean heart rate and progression of CAV. The role of beta blockers warrants further investigation, with our results indicating that they may play a protective role in early CAV development.

• Klíčová slova
• beta blocker, cardiac allograft vasculopathy, heart rate, optical coherence tomography,
• MeSH
• alografty MeSH
• koronární angiografie MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci koronárních tepen * diagnostické zobrazování   etiologie   MeSH
• optická koherentní tomografie MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• srdeční frekvence MeSH
• transplantace srdce * škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH

BACKGROUND: In patients having undergone orthotopic heart transplantation, a number of complications exist that are known to be connected to both telomerase activity and telomere length. The aim of this study was to determine how telomere length in aortic DNA correlates with the subsequent post-transplantation development of the patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2005 and 2015, we collected aortic samples from 376 heart recipients (age 50.8 ± 11.8 years) and 383 donors (age 38.6 ± 12.2 years). Relative telomere length in aortic tissue DNA was determined using quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Shorter telomere length was detected in heart allograft recipients compared to donors (P < 0.0001). Patients suffering acute cellular rejection had significantly shorter telomere length (P < 0.01) than patients without rejection. Shorter telomere length was observed in patients with implanted mechanical circulatory support before heart transplantation (P < 0.03), as well as in subjects with cardiac allograft vasculopathy (P < 0.05). Overall survival time after heart transplantation was associated with shorter donor telomeres (P < 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Telomere length differed between donors and recipients independent of the sex and age of the patients. Our findings suggest a potential new linkage between the aortic telomere length of recipients and post-heart transplant complications. Further studies focusing on epigenetic modifications and gene regulation involved in telomere maintenance in transplanted patients should verify our results.

• Klíčová slova
• Aortic tissue, Cellular rejection, DNA, Heart transplantation, Telomere length,
• MeSH
• aorta fyziologie   MeSH
• dárci tkání MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• homologní transplantace trendy   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• rejekce štěpu diagnóza   genetika   patofyziologie   MeSH
• telomery fyziologie   MeSH
• transplantace srdce trendy   MeSH
• zkracování telomer fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based studies of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) published thus far have focused mainly on frame-based qualitative analysis of the vascular wall. Full capabilities of this inherently 3-dimensional (3D) imaging modality to quantify CAV have not been fully exploited. METHODS: Coronary OCT imaging was performed at 1 month and 12 months after heart transplant (HTx) during routine surveillance cardiac catheterization. Both baseline and follow-up OCT examinations were analyzed using proprietary, highly automated 3D graph-based optimal segmentation software. Automatically identified borders were efficiently adjudicated using our "just-enough-interaction" graph-based segmentation approach that allows to efficiently correct local and regional segmentation errors without slice-by-slice retracing of borders. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients with paired baseline and follow-up OCT studies were included. After registration of baseline and follow-up pullbacks, a total of 356 ± 89 frames were analyzed per patient. During the first post-transplant year, significant reduction in the mean luminal area (p = 0.028) and progression in mean intimal thickness (p = 0.001) were observed. Proximal parts of imaged coronary arteries were affected more than distal parts (p < 0.001). High levels of LDL cholesterol (p = 0.02) and total cholesterol (p = 0.031) in the first month after HTx were the main factors associated with early CAV development. CONCLUSIONS: Our novel, highly automated 3D OCT image analysis method for analyzing intimal and medial thickness in HTx recipients provides fast, accurate, and highly detailed quantitative data on early CAV changes, which are characterized by significant luminal reduction and intimal thickness progression as early as within the first 12 months after HTx.

• Klíčová slova
• OCT, cardiac allograft vasculopathy, cholesterol, intimal thickness, rapid progression,
• MeSH
• časná diagnóza MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• interpretace obrazu počítačem metody   MeSH
• koronární angiografie metody   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• následné studie MeSH
• nemoci koronárních tepen diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• optická koherentní tomografie * MeSH
• pooperační komplikace diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• progrese nemoci MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• transplantace srdce * MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• klinické zkoušky MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH

BACKGROUND: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a strong predictor of prognosis in chronic heart failure. We aimed to evaluate the clinical correlates and interpretation of BNP monitoring in LVAD out-patient recipients. METHODS: We performed a prospective study in 136 individuals after HeartMate II LVAD implantation. During follow-up they were divided into group A (severe adverse events requiring hospitalisation), group B (mild to moderate adverse events) and group C (an uneventful course). BNP was measured pre-implant, at the first out-patient visit, and then every 2 months. We identified the lowest level, and the level at the clinical event and/or the highest value in patients without clinical events (BNP peak). RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 298 days, 8 patients (6%) died, 21 patients (15%) experienced a severe adverse event (group A) and 38 patients (28%) had other adverse event (group B). Both the absolute value of BNP peak and its percentage values relative to pre-implant, first visit and minimum BNP had similar areas under the curve (AUC) to identify individuals with adverse events (group A and B) from group C. The performance of BNP peak rose from detection of infection to diagnosis of heart failure and culminated in individuals with pump thrombosis (AUC 0.68 vs. 0.75 vs. 0.93). CONCLUSIONS: Serial measurement of BNP in outpatients with LVAD correlates with the occurrence of adverse events. Assessment of absolute values of BNP peak seems to have a similar accuracy to analysis of intra-individual variation of BNP and it is more practical.

• Klíčová slova
• B-type natriuretic peptide, advanced heart failure, prognosis, ventricular assist devices,
• MeSH
• ambulantní monitorování metody   MeSH
• ambulantní péče metody   MeSH
• biologické markery metabolismus   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• dysfunkce levé srdeční komory krev   terapie   MeSH
• infekce spojené s protézou krev   diagnóza   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• natriuretický peptid typu B metabolismus   MeSH
• plocha pod křivkou MeSH
• podpůrné srdeční systémy * MeSH
• pooperační komplikace krev   diagnóza   MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• srdeční selhání krev   terapie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biologické markery MeSH
• natriuretický peptid typu B MeSH

OBJECTIVES: Telomeres are repetitive non-coding DNA sequences on the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Relative leukocyte telomere length (LrTL) is considered to reflect biological ageing and fitness. Therefore, we examined whether LrTL would reflect rTL in aortic tissue (ArTL) and whether it could be used as a marker of biological heart age. DESIGN: We analysed telomere length in aortic and leukocyte samples from 73 heart recipients (63 males, 10 females; age 52.2±11.7 years). Relative telomere length was measured using a quantitative PCR-based method. RESULTS: Neither LrTL nor ArTL correlated significantly with the age of heart recipients. Mean ArTL was slightly shorter than LrTL (p=0.06) and there was a slight but significant inverse correlation between LrTL and ArTL (p=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: The age of patients with end stage heart failure was not associated with leukocyte or aortic telomere length. An inverse correlation between LrTL and ArTL suggests that LrTL is unlikely to be an important predictor of biological ageing in these patients.

• MeSH
• DNA MeSH
• kvantitativní polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• leukocyty metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové biomarkery genetika   MeSH
• srdeční selhání genetika   MeSH
• telomery genetika   patologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DNA MeSH
• nádorové biomarkery MeSH

AIM: To assess whether B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) can serve as a predictor of end-stage chronic heart failure (CHF) in patients with severe systolic dysfunction of the systemic right ventricle (SRV). METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis in 28 patients with severe systolic dysfunction of the SRV (ejection fraction 23 ± 6%) who were evaluated as heart transplant (HTx) candidates between May 2007 and October 2014. The primary endpoints of the study (end-stage CHF) were progressive CHF, urgent HTx, and ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation. Plasma BNP levels were measured using a chemiluminescent immunoassay. RESULTS: During median follow-up of 29 months (interquartile range, 9-50), 3 patients died of progressive CHF, 5 patients required an urgent HTx, and 6 patients underwent VAD implantation. BNP was a strong predictor of end-stage CHF (hazard ratio per 100 ng/L: 1.079, 95% confidence interval, 1.042-1.117, P<0.001). The following variables with corresponding areas under the curve (AUC) were identified as the most significant predictors of end-stage CHF: BNP (AUC 1.00), New York Heart Association functional class class III or IV (AUC 0.98), decompensated CHF in the last year (AUC 0.96), and systolic dysfunction of the subpulmonal ventricle (AUC 0.96). CONCLUSION: BNP is a powerful predictor of end-stage CHF in individuals with systolic dysfunction of the SRV.

• MeSH
• chronická nemoc MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• dysfunkce pravé srdeční komory patofyziologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• natriuretický peptid typu B krev   MeSH
• podpůrné srdeční systémy MeSH
• prognóza MeSH
• proporcionální rizikové modely MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• srdeční selhání patofyziologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• stupeň závažnosti nemoci MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• natriuretický peptid typu B MeSH

BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a risk factor for adverse hospital outcomes in recipients of a heart transplantation (HTx). Timely recognition of AKI is crucial for the initiation of proper treatment. We hypothesized that serum or urine biomarkers can predict AKI. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this prospective study we evaluated 117 consecutive patients after HTx. AKI was defined as an increase of the serum creatinine level by ≥50% or a worsening of the renal function requiring renal replacement therapy during the first post-HTx week. We serially sampled serum cystatin C (S-cystatin C) as a marker of glomerular filtration and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (U-NGAL) as a marker of tubular damage. RESULTS A cohort of 30 patients (25.6%) fulfilled the criteria of AKI. S-cystatin C allowed the earliest separation between the AKI and non-AKI groups, with a significant difference present as soon as 3 h after surgery and it persisted on days 7, 10, and 30. The increase in S-cystatin C preceded the serum creatinine elevation by 4 days. In a multivariate analysis, S-cystatin C >1.6 mg/L at 3 h after HTx predicted AKI with OR 4.3 (95% CI: 1.6-11.5). U-NGAL was significantly higher at day 3 in the AKI group (p=0.003) and elevated S-cystatin C (≥2.54 mg/L on day 7) could predict 1-year mortality in these HTx recipients. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that the measurement of S-cystatin C at 3 h after surgery may help to identify patients with high risk for renal complications. A persistent elevation of S-cystatin C also predicts 1-year mortality.

• MeSH
• akutní poškození ledvin krev   diagnóza   etiologie   MeSH
• antilymfocytární sérum terapeutické užití   MeSH
• biologické markery krev   MeSH
• časná diagnóza MeSH
• cystatin C krev   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• imunosupresiva terapeutické užití   MeSH
• kombinovaná farmakoterapie MeSH
• kreatinin krev   MeSH
• kyselina mykofenolová terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lipokalin-2 krev   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• takrolimus terapeutické užití   MeSH
• transplantace srdce škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antilymfocytární sérum MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• cystatin C MeSH
• imunosupresiva MeSH
• kreatinin MeSH
• kyselina mykofenolová MeSH
• lipokalin-2 MeSH
• takrolimus MeSH