Advances in understanding and managing pediatric heart failure and transplant

This article highlights the most recent advances in a review of the current literature in the field of pediatric heart failure and transplantation.

Diagnostically, the identification of new genetic factors has contributed to a deeper understanding of cardiomyopathy in children. Novel medications like sacubitril/valsartan and Sodium-Glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, which are now standard in the adult population are being studied in pediatric population and offer new promise of pediatric heart failure treatment. Ventricular assist devices are more commonly used in cardiomyopathy patients and single ventricle patients as a bridge to transplant. Recent pediatric heart transplant society (PHTS) data demonstrated that waitlist survival improved significantly over the past decades (i) and new treatments such as daratumumab and eculizumab have been used in high-risk populations and demonstrate promising results. TEAMMATE trial is the first multicenter randomized clinical trial (RCT) in pediatric heart transplant (HT) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of everolimus (EVL) and low-dose tacrolimus (TAC) compared to standard-dose TAC and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). It will provide valuable information about the safety and efficacy of EVL, TAC, and MMF (ii).Donor cell-free DNA has been used more in pediatric transplant recipients and has significantly decreased invasive EMB (iii).

This past 5 years have witness dramatic progress in the field of pediatric heart failure and transplantation including more use of mechanical support in heart failure patients with various underlying etiology, especially use of mechanical support in single ventricle patients and the use of sacubitril/valsartan and SGLT2 inhibitors in the pediatric population. The problem of the highly sensitized transplant recipient remains, although novel therapeutics have been added to our toolbox of options to maintain healthy allograft function. Ongoing research aims to further enhance our understanding and management of pediatric heart failure, emphasizing the need for continued innovation in this complex field.