Dual-organ transplantation in older recipients: outcomes after heart–kidney transplant versus isolated heart transplant in patients aged ≥65 years

• Published in: Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery 2019-01, Vol.28 (1), p.45-51
• Main Authors: Reich, Heidi, Dimbil, Sadia, Levine, Ryan, Megna, Dominick, Mersola, Savannah, Patel, Jignesh, Kittleson, Michelle, Czer, Lawrence, Kobashigawa, Jon, Esmailian, Fardad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1569-9293; 1569-9285; 1569-9285
• DOI: 10.1093/icvts/ivy202

Abstract OBJECTIVES Combined heart–kidney transplantation has successful outcomes. With an increasing number of patients with end-stage heart disease, there is a high incidence of significant renal insufficiency that may necessitate combined heart–kidney transplant. Outcomes for heart–kidney transplant recipients aged ≥65 years are not well described. METHODS Between 2010 and 2015, 163 recipients ≥65 years of age were transplanted in a single centre: 12 heart–kidney and 151 isolated heart transplants. Outcomes assessed were estimated glomerular filtration rate at 1, 6 and 12 months after transplant, the need for dialysis, 1-year survival, 1-year freedom from rejection, 1-year freedom from cardiac allograft vasculopathy and 1-year freedom from non-fatal major adverse cardiac events. RESULTS Recipient ages were 67.8 ± 1.6 and 69.0 ± 2.8 years for heart–kidney transplant and isolated heart transplant, and pretransplant estimated glomerular filtration rates were 26.6 ± 9.4 vs 55.2 ± 18.9, respectively. At 1 month (66.3 ± 31.4 vs 67.2 ± 28.0, P = 0.92), 6 months (68.1 ± 21.3 vs 60.5 ± 19.6, P = 0.20) and 12 months (58.6 ± 21.5 vs 52.4 ± 18.5, P = 0.27) post-transplant, estimated glomerular filtration rate was similar for heart–kidney transplant versus isolated heart transplant. There was a trend towards reduced 1-year freedom from temporary dialysis after heart–kidney transplant relative to isolated heart transplant (75.0% vs 90.4%, P = 0.06) without a difference in 1-year freedom from chronic dialysis (100% vs 95.2%, P = 0.46). There were no differences in 1-year survival, 1-year freedom from any treated rejection, acute cellular rejection, antibody-mediated rejection, cardiac allograft vasculopathy and non-fatal major adverse cardiac events. CONCLUSIONS For patients ≥65 years old, heart–kidney transplant can achieve outcomes on par with heart transplant alone.