| 1. |
- Nelson, Lærke M., et al.
(author)
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Effect of Calcineurin Inhibitor-Free Everolimus-Based Immunosuppressive Regimen on Albuminuria and Glomerular Filtration Rate after Heart Transplantation
- 2017
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In: Transplantation. - 0041-1337. ; 101:11, s. 2793-2800
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Albuminuria in maintenance heart transplantation (HTx) is associated with poor renal response when switching to a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-lowered or free immunosuppressive regimen using everolimus (EVR), but the significance of albuminuria associated with EVR treatment after early CNI withdrawal in de novo HTx is unknown. METHODS: We tested if glomerular filtration rate (mGFR, measured by CrEDTA clearance) was associated with urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) post-HTx in a subgroup of patients included in the SCHEDULE trial, where de novo HTx patients (n=115) were randomized to EVR with complete CNI elimination 7–11 weeks post-HTx or standard CNI immunosuppression. RESULTS: In 66 patients UACR measures were available at 1 year. In 7 patients in the EVR group a CNI was reintroduced within 12 months. Median mGFR was significantly higher in the EVR group both 1 and 3 years post-HTx (p=0.0004, p=0.03). Median UACR at 1 year was significantly higher in the EVR group (p=0.002). There was no correlation between log(UACR) at 1 year and mGFR at 1 or 3 years (r=−0.01, p=0.9; r=0.15, p=0.26), and in the EVR group nor between log(UACR) at 1 year and change in mGFR (Δ1-3 years) (r=0.27, p=0.14). Excluding patients in the EVR group in whom a CNI was reintroduced did not significantly change the results. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of EVR with early CNI withdrawal after HTx on albuminuria and renal function appear dissociated; hence the clinical significance of albuminuria in this setting is uncertain and should not necessarily rule out EVR-based immunosuppression.
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| 2. |
- Relbo Authen, Anne, et al.
(author)
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Effect of everolimus vs calcineurin inhibitors on quality of life in heart transplant recipients during a 3-year follow-up : Results of a randomized controlled trial (SCHEDULE)
- 2017
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In: Clinical Transplantation. - : Wiley. - 0902-0063 .- 1399-0012. ; 31:9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Scandinavian heart transplant everolimus de novo study with early calcineurin inhibitors avoidance (SCHEDULE) trial was a 12 month, randomized, open-label, parallel-group trial that compared everolimus (EVR; n=56) to conventional CsA (n=59) immunosuppression. Previously, we reported that EVR outperformed CsA in improving renal function and coronary artery vasculopathy, despite a higher rejection rate with EVR. This study aimed to compare the effects of these treatments on quality of life (QoL). Within five post-operative days, patients (mean age 50±13 years, 27% women) were randomized to EVR or a standard CsA dosage (CsA group). This study assessed quality of life (QoL), based on the Short Form-36, EuroQol-5D, and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Assessments were performed pre-HTx and 12 and 36 months post-HTx. At 12 and 36 months, the groups showed similar improvements in Short Form-36 measures (at pre-HTx, 12 and 36 months the values were as follows: Physical component summary: EVR: 31.5±110.9, 49.1±9.7, and 47.9±10.6; P<.01; CsA: 32.5±8.2, 48.4±8.5, and 46.5±11.5; P<.01; mental component summary: EVR: 46.0±12.0, 51.7±11.9, and 52.1±13.0; P<.01; CsA: 38.2±12.5, 53.4±7.1, and 54.3±13.0; P<.01); similar decrease in mean BDI (EVR: 10.9±10.2, 5.4±4.7, and 8.1±9.0; P<.01; CsA: 11.8±7.1, 6.3±5.4, and 6.2±6.5; P<.01); and similar Euro Qol-improvements. Thus, in this small-sized study, EVR-based and conventional CsA immunosuppressive strategies produced similar QoL improvements.
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| 3. |
- Ivarsson, Bodil, et al.
(author)
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Information, social support and coping in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension-A nationwide population-based study
- 2017
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In: Patient Education and Counseling. - : Elsevier BV. - 0738-3991 .- 1873-5134. ; 100:5, s. 936-942
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) decrease life expectancy for affected patients. The aim was to describe the perceptions of received information regarding diagnosis, treatment and management, as well as social support and coping perceived by patients with PAH or CTEPH. Methods: A descriptive, national cohort survey that included patients from all PAH-centres in Sweden. A quantitative methodology was employed where all patients received three questionnaires, QLQ-INFO25, Mastery Scale and Social Network & Support Scale. Results: The response rate was 74% (n. =325), mean age 66. ±. 14. years, 71% were female and 69% were diagnosed with PAH and 31% with CTEPH. Sixty percent of respondents were satisfied with the received information and felt it was helpful. Best experiences were of information in the areas of medical tests (70%) and the disease (61%). Forty-five percent wanted more information. Men described their social network as more accessible than women (p. =0.004). Those living alone had a lower coping ability. Conclusion: Despite a high level of satisfaction with the received information, almost half of the patients wanted more information. Practice implications: Regular repeating or giving new information should be an ongoing process in the care of patients at the PAH-centres.
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| 4. |
- Kylhammar, David, et al.
(author)
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Pulmonell hypertension vanligt vid kronisk lungsjukdom
- 2017
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In: Läkartidningen. - 0023-7205. ; 114:30-32, s. 1256-1256
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In 2015 the European Society of Cardiology and European Respiratory Society published new guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH). PH due to lung diseases and/ or hypoxia was classified as a separate entity. PH is common in lung diseases, but seldom severe. Nevertheless, the presence of PH in a patient with lung disease is associated with worse outcome. If there is clinical suspicion of PH in a patient with lung disease, echocardiography is recommended, and if there are signs of severe PH and/or severe right ventricular dysfunction the patient should be referred to a PH expert centre. Patients may have lung disease and e.g. pulmonary arterial hypertension or chronic thromboembolic PH simultaneously, and targeted treatments are available in such cases. PH-targeted drugs should, however, not be used to treat PH due to lung diseases, since there are no robust data speaking for their benefit and a risk of impaired arterial oxygenation due to inhibition of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Instead, the underlying lung disease should be optimally treated, including long-term oxygen therapy in case of chronic hypoxemia.
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| 5. |
- Kylhammar, David, et al.
(author)
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Pulmonell hypertension vanligt vid kronisk lungsjukdom - Europeiska riktlinjer kring utredning och behandling
- 2017
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In: Läkartidningen. - 0023-7205 .- 1652-7518. ; 114
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Pulmonary hypertension due to lung diseases In 2015 the European Society of Cardiology and European Respiratory Society published new guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH). PH due to lung diseases and/or hypoxia was classified as a separate entity. PH is common in lung diseases, but seldom severe. Nevertheless, the presence of PH in a patient with lung disease is associated with worse outcome. If there is clinical suspicion of PH in a patient with lung disease, echocardiography is recommended, and if there are signs of severe PH and/or severe right ventricular dysfunction the patient should be referred to a PH expert centre. Patients may have lung disease and e.g. pulmonary arterial hypertension or chronic thromboembolic PH simultaneously, and targeted treatments are available in such cases. PH-targeted drugs should, however, not be used to treat PH due to lung diseases, since there are no robust data speaking for their benefit and a risk of impaired arterial oxygenation due to inhibition of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Instead, the underlying lung disease should be optimally treated, including long-term oxygen therapy in case of chronic hypoxemia.
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| 6. |
- Lundgren, Jakob, et al.
(author)
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Impact of postoperative pulmonary hypertension on outcome after heart transplantation
- 2017
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In: Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1401-7431 .- 1651-2006. ; 51:3, s. 172-181
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: We wanted to investigate the effects of postoperative pulmonary hypertension (PHpostop: mean pulmonary artery pressure [MPAP] ≥ 25 mmHg), diastolic pressure gradient (DPG), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), and repeated hemodynamic measurements on long-term survival after heart transplantation (HT). Design: Eighty-nine patients who underwent HT at Skåne University Hospital in Lund in the period 1988–2010 and who were evaluated with right-heart-catheterization at rest, prior to HT and repeatedly during the first postoperative year, were grouped based on their MPAP, DPG, and PVR. Results: One year after HT, survival was lower in patients with PHpostop than in those without, in patients with DPG ≥7 mmHg than in those with DPG <7 mmHg, and in patients with PVR >3 WU than in those with PVR ≤3 WU. Moreover, compared to patients with no PHpostop or with PHpostop at one evaluation during the first year after HT, PHpostop at repeated evaluations was associated with higher mortality (hazard ratio 3.4, 95% CI 1.4–8.0). There was no significant difference in acute cellular rejection between patients with and without PHpostop, but postoperative kidney function was worse in patients with repeated PHpostop. Conclusions: When defined according to present guidelines, PH one year after HT may emerge as a prognostic marker for long-term outcome after HT. Moreover, PHpostop at repeated evaluations during the first year after HT had stronger prognostic value than PHpostop at a single examination, illustrating a means of identifying a high-risk population. However, confirmation in larger multi-center studies is warranted.
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| 7. |
- Lundgren, Jakob, et al.
(author)
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Pulmonell hypertension vanligt vid vänstersidig hjärtsjukdom
- 2017
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In: Läkartidningen. - 0023-7205. ; 114:49-50
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious complication to left heart disease (LHD), affecting a majority of the patients during the course of the disease. Initially, PHLHD is caused by passive congestion of the pulmonary vessels due to increased left atrial pressures, a condition that is currently denoted as isolated post-capillary PH (Icp-PH). In the majority of patients the increased atrial pressure is a result of elevated left ventricular filling pressures. Furthermore, chronically elevated filling pressures may yield endothelial damage, resulting in structural and functional alterations in the pre-capillary bed with further elevation in pulmonary pressures as well as elevated vascular resistance, defined as combined precapillary and postcapillary PH (Cpc-PH). With previous definitions of PH-LHD it has been difficult to differentiate between the subgroups, so a new classification was presented in the 2015 PH guidelines. Despite PH-LHD being common and serious, specific therapies are lacking for the pulmonary component. Instead, treatments focus on optimizing the underlying cause of PH-LHD and involve medical as well as surgical therapies. In the present review we presents, based on the new guidelines, current knowledge on pathophysiological and pathobiological mechanisms, epidemiology, investigation and treatment of PH-LHD.
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| 8. |
- Lundgren, Jakob, et al.
(author)
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Pulmonell hypertension vanligt vid vänstersidig hjärtsjukdom - Kunskapsläget är dåligt – fler kliniska studier behövs
- 2017
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In: Läkartidningen. - 0023-7205. ; 114
-
Research review (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious complication to left heart disease (LHD), affecting a majority of the patients during the course of the disease. Initially, PH-LHD is caused by passive congestion of the pulmonary vessels due to increased left atrial pressures, a condition that is currently denoted as isolated post-capillary PH (Icp-PH). In the majority of patients the increased atrial pressure is a result of elevated left ventricular filling pressures. Furthermore, chronically elevated filling pressures may yield endothelial damage, resulting in structural and functional alterations in the pre-capillary bed with further elevation in pulmonary pressures as well as elevated vascular resistance, defined as combined precapillary and postcapillary PH (Cpc-PH). With previous definitions of PH-LHD it has been difficult to differentiate between the subgroups, so a new classification was presented in the 2015 PH guidelines. Despite PH-LHD being common and serious, specific therapies are lacking for the pulmonary component. Instead, treatments focus on optimizing the underlying cause of PH-LHD and involve medical as well as surgical therapies. In the present review we presents, based on the new guidelines, current knowledge on pathophysiological and pathobiological mechanisms, epidemiology, investigation and treatment of PH-LHD.
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| 9. |
- Löfdahl, Eveline, et al.
(author)
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Osteoporosis following heart transplantation and immunosuppressive therapy
- 2017
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In: Transplantation Reviews. - : Elsevier BV. - 0955-470X. ; 31:4, s. 232-239
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Heart transplantation (HT) remains the ultimate final therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure, who despite optimal medical and surgical treatments exhibit severe symptoms. To prevent rejection of the transplanted organ, HT patients require life-long immunosuppressive therapy. The goal of the immunosuppression is to minimise the risk of immune-mediated graft rejection, while avoiding clinical side-effects. Current immunosuppressive agents have yielded good survival outcome, however, complications of the immunosuppressive therapy, such as impaired bone strength and increased fracture risk, are common among HT patients rendering increased morbidity and mortality rates. The main aim of the present review was to summarise current knowledge on bone strength impairment after HT and concomitant immunosuppressive therapy.
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| 10. |
- Säleby, Joanna, et al.
(author)
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Angiogenic and inflammatory biomarkers in the differentiation of pulmonary hypertension
- 2017
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In: Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1401-7431 .- 1651-2006. ; 51:5, s. 261-270
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious condition where diagnosis often is delayed due to unspecific symptoms. New methods to diagnose and differentiate PH earlier would therefore be of great value. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the relationship between circulating angiogenic and inflammatory biomarkers and various hemodynamic variables in relation to different causes of PH. Design. Plasma samples from 63 patients at diagnosis were extracted from Lund Cardio Pulmonary Register, separated into pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, n = 22), chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH, n = 15) and left heart disease (LHD) with (n = 21) and without (n = 5) PH. Blood samples from eight control subjects devoid of PH were additionally evaluated. Plasma concentrations of angiogenic (PlGF, Tie2, VEGF-A, VEGF-D, bFGF, sFlt-1) and inflammatory (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) biomarkers were analysed and related to hemodynamic variables. Results. SFlt-1 (p < .004) and VEGF-A (p < .035) were higher in all PH groups compared to controls. TNF-α (p < .030) were elevated in PAH patients in relation to the other PH groups as well as controls. Likewise, plasma VEGF-D (p < .008) were elevated in LHD with PH compared to the other groups with PH and controls. In PAH, higher sFlt-1 concentrations correlated to a worse state of hemodynamics. Conclusions. Our findings indicate that sFlt-1 and VEGF-A may be future tools when discriminating PH from non-PH. Moreover, TNF-α may differentiate PAH and VEGF- D may differentiate LHD with PH, from the other groups with PH, as well as controls. SFlt-1 may furthermore play a role as a future marker of disease severity.
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