TY - JOUR
T1 - Blood transfusions decrease the incidence of acute rejection in cardiac allograft recipients
AU - Fernández, Félix G.
AU - Jaramillo, Andres
AU - Ewald, Greg
AU - Rogers, Joseph
AU - Pasque, Michael K.
AU - Mohanakumar, T.
AU - Moazami, Nader
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by a research fellowship from the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (to FGF). We thank Dr Richard Schuessler for statistical analysis of the data.
PY - 2005/7
Y1 - 2005/7
N2 - Background: Cardiac transplant recipients frequently receive a large number of transfusions. The objective of this study was to determine whether there is an association between total number of blood transfusions and cardiac allograft rejection. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all cardiac transplants between October 1, 1997, and December 31, 2001, was performed. Total number of transfusions, total number of rejection episodes Grade 3A or more, rejection-free survival, and overall survival were analyzed. Comparisons between patients bridged to transplantation with a Novacor left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and the primary transplant group were also made. Results: Eighty-two patients were transplanted. Fifteen were bridged to transplantation, and 67 underwent primary heart transplantation. Age and sex were similar for the LVAD group and the primary transplant group (45 ± 11 vs 47 ± 15 years and 67% vs 58% male sex, respectively). Mean follow-up was 658 ± 486 days for the LVAD group and 708 ± 548 days for the primary transplant group. Transfusions received were 50 ± 34 U of packed red blood cells for the LVAD group and 7 ± 12 for the primary transplant group (p < 0.001). There were no differences in donor characteristics between the 2 groups. The incidence of acute rejection within 1 year was 27% for the LVAD group and 39% for the primary transplant group (p = .28). Freedom from rejection was 71% at 1 year in the LVAD group compared with 59% for the primary transplant group (p = 0.39). In all 82 patients, the total number of transfusions was inversely correlated with the development of acute rejection (p = 0.011). Survival was 80% and 62% for the LVAD group at 1 and 3 years after transplantation and 88% and 85%, respectively, for the primary transplant group (p = 0.045). Conclusions: The number of blood transfusions received by heart transplant recipients is inversely related with the number of acute rejection episodes.
AB - Background: Cardiac transplant recipients frequently receive a large number of transfusions. The objective of this study was to determine whether there is an association between total number of blood transfusions and cardiac allograft rejection. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all cardiac transplants between October 1, 1997, and December 31, 2001, was performed. Total number of transfusions, total number of rejection episodes Grade 3A or more, rejection-free survival, and overall survival were analyzed. Comparisons between patients bridged to transplantation with a Novacor left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and the primary transplant group were also made. Results: Eighty-two patients were transplanted. Fifteen were bridged to transplantation, and 67 underwent primary heart transplantation. Age and sex were similar for the LVAD group and the primary transplant group (45 ± 11 vs 47 ± 15 years and 67% vs 58% male sex, respectively). Mean follow-up was 658 ± 486 days for the LVAD group and 708 ± 548 days for the primary transplant group. Transfusions received were 50 ± 34 U of packed red blood cells for the LVAD group and 7 ± 12 for the primary transplant group (p < 0.001). There were no differences in donor characteristics between the 2 groups. The incidence of acute rejection within 1 year was 27% for the LVAD group and 39% for the primary transplant group (p = .28). Freedom from rejection was 71% at 1 year in the LVAD group compared with 59% for the primary transplant group (p = 0.39). In all 82 patients, the total number of transfusions was inversely correlated with the development of acute rejection (p = 0.011). Survival was 80% and 62% for the LVAD group at 1 and 3 years after transplantation and 88% and 85%, respectively, for the primary transplant group (p = 0.045). Conclusions: The number of blood transfusions received by heart transplant recipients is inversely related with the number of acute rejection episodes.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=21544461535&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.healun.2004.07.009
DO - 10.1016/j.healun.2004.07.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 15993782
AN - SCOPUS:21544461535
SN - 1053-2498
VL - 24
SP - S255-S261
JO - Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation
JF - Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation
IS - 7 SUPPL.
ER -