Intraoperative Tissue-Immunosuppressive Therapy Reduces Rejection Episodes in Heart Transplant Recipients

Our study was conducted to determine the effects of intraoperative antithymocyte globulin administration on donor hearts procured after cardiocirculatory death. We evaluated the impact of antithymocyte globulin on graft function and related parameters during isothermic blood cardioplegia.

In this prospective and randomized single center study, 30 patients with orthotropic heart transplant were divided into 2 groups: group 1 included 15 patients who received retrograde antithymocyte globulin infusion via coronary sinus intraoperatively and immediately after organ procurement and group 2 included 15 patients who received traditional antithymocyte globulin infusion after implantation.

Study patients had a mean age of 33.8 years (range, 15-56 y). All patients had panel reactive antibody less than 10% except for 3 patients. The cluster of differentiation 3-positive cell count decrease was more than 20%. The inotropic therapy dose required and the myocardial pressure (stiffness) were less for group 1 patients. These patients had less acute rejection episodes than group 2 (0% vs 13.3%; P < .05).

Favorable clinical outcomes were observed in terms of less acute rejection episodes and better graft function at least during the early posttransplant period. Intraoperative antithymocyte globulin treatment may have a preventive effect for acute cellular rejection in heart transplant patients.