Mayo Clinic heart transplant surgeons present findings from three clinical studies at ISHLT 2015

Heart transplant surgeons from Mayo Clinic are presenting findings from three recent clinical studies involving heart transplant patients. The presentations took place during the 2015 International Society of Heart & Lung Transplant (ISHLT) in Nice, France, on April 15-18.

Mayo Clinic physicians presented oral and poster presentations on 16 studies at ISHLT this year. The conference attracts 3,000 health care professionals from 45 countries who represent more than 15 different medical disciplines involved in the management and treatment of end-stage heart and lung disease. A few highlights of the Mayo Clinic-related research include:

"Are psychosocial characteristics predictive of death and rehospitalization after destination left ventricular assist device?"
• This study examined psychosocial factors, such as drug use, depression and nonsmoking status to determine if they are associated with higher rehospitalization risk after a patient has received a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).
• The study concluded that drug use, depression and nonsmoking status are associated with higher rehospitalization risk after LVAD. These data may be helpful in stratifying and communicating risk to patients who are considering LVAD as destination therapy.
• Mayo Clinic researchers involved in this study include Shannon Dunlay, M.D., M.S.; Sarah Schettle, PAC; David Snipelisky, M.D.; Shashank Sharma; Sudhir Kushwaha, M.D.; John Stulak, M.D.
• Date of presentation: April 15

"Sirolimus-based immunosuppression results in lower incidence of post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders in heart transplant recipients"
• This study examines whether the use of sirolimus-based immunosuppression (SRL) drug therapy affects whether a patient will be diagnosed with a form of cancer that affects transplant patients. Known as post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder, this type of malignancy occurs in 2 percent to 9 percent of heart transplant patients.
• The study concluded that these initial observations suggest that post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders PTLD incidence is lower in heart transplant recipients on sirolimus-based immunosuppression. The mechanism may be due to the powerful anti-proliferative effect of sirolimus. This study highlights another potential advantage of SRL that may improve long-term survival following heart transplantation.
• Mayo Clinic researchers involved in this study include Darko Vucicevic, M.D.; Richard Daly, M.D.; Eric Steidley, M.D.; Robert Scott, M.D.; Walter Kremers, Ph.D.; Brooks Edwards, M.D.; Sudhir Kushwaha, M.D.
• Date of presentation: April 17

"HVAD insertion via right ventricular interposition: a novel strategy for biventricular support"
• This presentation will feature the case of a Mayo patient who received a new implantable ventricular support device that was designed for smaller patients whose chest cavities will not accommodate existing ventricular support devices. With the Hybrid Ventricular Assist Device (HVAD), Mayo physicians were able to support the patient while she awaited heart transplant.
• Mayo Clinic physicians involved in this case include David Joyce, M.D.; John Stulak, M.D.; Sudhir Kushwaha, M.D.; Richard Daly, M.D.; Lyle Joyce, M.D., Ph.D.
• Date of presentation: April 17