Early elevated donor‐derived cell‐free DNA levels in heart transplant recipients following precision‐controlled cardiac transport system or ice‐cooled organ transport

• Published in: Clinical transplantation Vol. 37; no. 12; pp. e15151 - n/a
• Main Authors: Alam, Amit, Zyl, Johanna S., Afzal, Aasim, Felius, Joost, Hall, Shelley A., Meyer, Dan M., Carey, Sandra A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark 01-12-2023
• Subjects: guidelines; heart (allograft) function/dysfunction; heart (native) function/dysfunction; heart disease; heart failure/injury; heart failure/injury; guidelines; heart (allograft) function/dysfunction; heart (native) function/dysfunction; heart disease
• ISSN: 0902-0063; 1399-0012
• DOI: 10.1111/ctr.15151

Background
Recent innovations in temperature‐controlled cardiac transportation allow for static hypothermic preservation of transplant organs during transportation. We assessed differences in donor‐derived cell‐free DNA (dd‐cfDNA) using the SherpaPak cardiac transport system (SCTS) and traditional ice transportation.
Methods
Single‐organ heart transplant recipients between January 2020 and January 2022 were included if they had dd‐cfDNA measures ≤6 weeks post‐transplant along with the baseline biopsy at 6 weeks as part of the surveillance protocol and no biopsy‐confirmed rejection ≤90 days. Elevated dd‐cfDNA ≥.20% were compared between groups using logistic regression including a subject effect.
Results
Of 65 hearts transplanted, 30 were transported with SCTS and 35 on ice. Recipient characteristics were similar between groups. Donors in the SCTS group were older (34 vs. 40 years, p = .04) with a longer total ischemic time (171 vs. 212 min, p = .002). Recipients in the SCTS group had a greater risk of elevated dd‐cfDNA unadjusted and adjusted for donor age, and prolonged ischemic times > 3.5 h (Unadjusted odds ratio: 4.9, 95%‐CI: 1.08–22.5, p = .039 and Adjusted odds ratio: 5.5, 95%‐CI: 1.03–29.6, p = .046). Primary graft dysfunction rates and 1‐year mortality were comparable between groups.
Conclusion
Elevated dd‐cfDNA in patients procured with SCTS may indicate that graft injury was not negated relative to ice transport. However, there were no clinical differences noted in short or long‐term outcomes including mortality despite a longer ischemic time in the SCTS group.