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Updated: May 25, 2026

Robust Mitochondrial Isolation from Rodent Cardiac Tissue
Published on: August 23, 2024
Mitochondrial electron transport chain deficiency, cardiomyopathy, and long-term cardiac transplant outcome
Alana S Golden1, Yuk M Law, Hillary Shurtleff
1Division of Pediatric Neurology, Seattle Children's Hospital and University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
Insights
Cardiac transplantation is feasible for patients with mitochondrial cytopathies and dilated cardiomyopathy. Careful patient selection leads to excellent long-term outcomes, challenging previous concerns about complications.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Transplantation Medicine
Background:
- Multisystemic mitochondrial cytopathies often involve cardiac complications like dilated cardiomyopathy.
- Organ transplantation is typically contraindicated in these patients due to presumed risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of cardiac transplantation in patients with mitochondrial cytopathies and dilated cardiomyopathy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series of three patients with confirmed oxidative phosphorylation defects and dilated cardiomyopathy who underwent cardiac transplantation.
- Monitoring of tolerance to immunosuppression and long-term follow-up.
Main Results:
- All three patients successfully tolerated standard immunosuppression regimens.
- Excellent long-term outcomes were observed in all transplanted patients.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac transplantation can be a viable option for carefully selected patients with multisystemic mitochondrial cytopathies and dilated cardiomyopathy.
- This approach can lead to favorable long-term results, contrary to prior expectations.
Abstract:
Organ transplantation in multisystemic mitochondrial cytopathies is usually not performed because of perceived untoward complications. We report three patients with demonstrated oxidative phosphorylation defects and dilated cardiomyopathy who underwent cardiac transplant. All three patients tolerated immunosuppression medications and have had an excellent long-term outcome. Our results suggest that with proper patient selection in this population, cardiac transplantation is feasible and can have good outcomes.
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