IntroductionPrimary graft dysfunction is a major cause of mortality after heart
transplantation.ObjectiveTo evaluate correlations between donor-related clinical/biochemical markers
and the occurrence of primary graft dysfunction/clinical outcomes of
recipients within 30 days of transplant.MethodsThe prospective study involved 43 donor/recipient pairs. Data collected from
donors included demographic and echocardiographic information, noradrenaline
administration rates and concentrations of soluble tumor necrosis factor
receptors (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2), interleukins (IL-6 and IL-10), monocyte
chemoattractant protein-1, C-reactive protein and cardiac troponin I. Data
collected from recipients included operating, cardiopulmonary bypass,
intensive care unit and hospitalization times, inotrope administration and
left/right ventricular function through echocardiography.ResultsRecipients who developed moderate/severe left ventricular dysfunction had
received organs from significantly older donors (P =0.020).
Recipients from donors who required moderate/high doses of noradrenaline
(>0.23 µg/kg/min) around harvesting time exhibited lower
post-transplant ventricular ejection fractions (P =0.002)
and required longer CPB times (P =0.039). Significantly
higher concentrations of sTNFR1 (P =0.014) and sTNFR2
(P =0.030) in donors were associated with reduced
intensive care unit times (≤5 days) in recipients, while higher donor
IL-6 (P =0.029) and IL-10 (P =0.037)
levels were correlated with reduced hospitalization times (≤25 days)
in recipients. Recipients who required moderate/high levels of noradrenaline
for weaning off cardiopulmonary bypass were associated with lower donor
concentrations of sTNFR2 (P =0.028) and IL-6
(P =0.001).ConclusionHigh levels of sTNFR1, sTNFR2, IL-6 and IL-10 in donors were associated with
enhanced evolution in recipients. Allografts from older donors, or from
those treated with noradrenaline doses >0.23 µg/kg/min, were more
frequently affected by primary graft dysfunction within 30 days of
surgery.