Renal outcome after simultaneous heart and kidney transplantation

Simultaneous heart‐kidney transplant (HKTx) is a valid treatment for patients with coexisting heart and renal failure. The aim of this study was to assess renal outcome in HKTx and to identify predictive factors for renal loss. A retrospective study was conducted among 73 HKTx recipients: Donors’ and recipients' records were reviewed to evaluate patients’ and renal transplants’ survival and their prognostic factors. The mean follow‐up was 5.36 years. Renal primary non‐function occurred in 2.7%, and complications Clavien IIIb or higher were observed in 67.1% including 16 (22%) postoperative deaths. Five‐year overall survival and renal survival were 74.5% and 69.4%. Among survivors, seven returned to dialysis during follow‐up. The postoperative use of ECMO (HR = 6.04, P = 0.006), dialysis (HR = 1.04/day, P = 0.022), and occurrence of complications (HR = 31.79, P = 0.022) were independent predictors of postoperative mortality but not the history of previous HTx or KTx nor renal function prior to transplantation. History of KTx (HR = 2.52, P = 0.026) and increased delay between the two transplantations (HR = 1.25/hour, P = 0.018) were associated with renal transplant failure. HKTx provides good renal transplant survival and function, among survivors. Early mortality rate of 22% underlines the need to identify perioperative risk factors that would lead to more judicious and responsible allocation of a scarce resource.     

Association between post-transplant donor-specific antibodies and recipient outcomes in simultaneous liver–kidney transplant recipients: single-center,cohort study

There is a dearth of published data regarding the presence of post-transplant donor-specific antibodies (DSA), especially C1q-binding DSA (C1q+DSA), and patient and kidney allograft outcomes in simultaneous liver–kidney transplant (SLKT) recipients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study consisted of 85 consecutive SLKT patients between 2009 and 2018 in our center. Associations between presence of post-transplant DSA, including persistent and/or newly developed DSA and C1q+DSA, and all-cause mortality and the composite outcome of mortality, allograft kidney loss, and antibody-mediated rejection were examined using unadjusted and age and sex-adjusted Cox proportional hazards and time-dependent regression models. The mean age at SLKT was 56 years and 60% of the patients were male. Twelve patients (14%) had post-transplant DSA and seven patients (8%) had C1q+DSA. The presence of post-transplant DSA was significantly associated with increased risk of mortality (unadjusted model: Hazard Ratio (HR) = 2.72, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–6.98 and adjusted model: HR = 3.20, 95% CI: 1.11–9.22) and the composite outcome (unadjusted model: HR = 3.18, 95% CI: 1.31–7.68 and adjusted model: HR = 3.93, 95% CI: 1.39–11.10). There was also higher risk for outcomes in recipients with C1q+DSA compared the ones without C1q+DSA. Post-transplant DSA is significantly associated with worse patient and kidney allograft outcomes in SLKT. Further prospective and large cohort studies are warranted to better assess these associations.     

Height mismatch: An overlooked component of adult heart transplant outcomes

Heart transplantation guidelines recommend against matching donors with significant weight but not height discrepancies. This study analyzed the impact of donor-recipient height mismatch on mortality among heart transplant recipients. We retrospectively analyzed all adult patients in the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) registry undergoing heart transplantation from 1990 to September 2016. Moderate and severe height mismatch were classified as >10% and >15% difference in donor height from recipient height, respectively. The primary outcome was 1-year mortality. Adjusted Cox hazards regression was performed, and Kaplan-Meier estimates illustrated 10-year survival. Of 44 877 transplants, 4822 (10.7%) were moderately height mismatched. Height-mismatched recipients were more frequently female (41.6% vs 21.8%, P < .001), sex mismatched (53.8% vs 24.9%, P < .001), and weight mismatched (4.9% vs 1.9%, P < .001). After adjustment, recipients of moderately (HR = 1.15 [1.02-1.30]) and severely (HR = 1.38 [1.10-1.74]) taller donor hearts were at increased risk of mortality at 1 year relative to height-matched recipients. Furthermore, of 1042 (21.6%) severe mismatches, recipients with taller (HR = 1.39 [1.11-1.74]) but not shorter (HR = 0.79 [0.44-1.43]) donors faced increased 10-year mortality. The effect was pronounced among re-transplant candidates (HR = 1.96 [1.07-3.59]). In conclusion, matching with moderately or severely taller donors is an independent predictor of mortality among primary and re-transplant candidates.     

Bone Turnover Markers Including Undercarboxylated Osteocalcin Are Associated With Mortality Risk in Older Men

Osteocalcin in its undercarboxylated form (ucOC) may influence diabetes risk; however, its relationship with all-cause and cause-specific mortality is unclear. Whether other bone turnover markers (BTMs) are associated with mortality risk differently from ucOC also remains uncertain. Our aim was to determine associations of serum ucOC with all-cause and cause-specific mortality and compare these with the corresponding associations of serum total osteocalcin (TOC), procollagen type I N-propeptide (PINP), and collagen type 1 C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide (CTX) in older men. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 3871 community-dwelling men, aged 77.0 ± 3.6 years at baseline, followed for a median of 12.3 years. Exposure variables were ucOC, TOC, PINP, and CTX concentrations assayed in serum. Outcomes were incidence of all deaths and deaths due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) or cancer, ascertained using death registry data. Cox regression analyses adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors and prevalent CVD and for prevalent cancer in analyses of cancer-related mortality. Higher concentrations of ucOC, PINP, and CTX were associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] per 1 standard deviation increase: ucOC 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–1.18, p < 0.001; PINP HR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.01–1.11, p = 0.009; CTX HR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.08–1.19, p < 0.001), but TOC was not associated. Similar results were found after excluding men with an incident fracture during follow-up. Higher ucOC and CTX were associated with CVD mortality (ucOC HR per 1 SD increase 1.13, 95% CI 1.05–1.22, p = 0.001; CTX HR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.04–1.20, p = 0.003), but this result was not significant in competing risks analysis. Higher CTX was also associated with cancer mortality (HR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.01–1.23, p = 0.024). In conclusion, in older men, higher bone turnover, assessed by BTMs including ucOC, is a biomarker for all-cause mortality risk. Undercarboxylated osteocalcin was a more informative biomarker for this outcome than TOC. Higher CTX was associated with all-cause and cancer-related mortality. Further evaluation of causality and potential underlying mechanisms is warranted. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).     

Risk of Atrial Fibrillation Associated with Use of Bisphosphonates and Other Drugs Against Osteoporosis: A Cohort Study

We studied the association between bisphosphonate use and risk of atrial fibrillation or flutter and the effect of confounders such as heart and lung disease in a nationwide retrospective cohort from Denmark. All users of bisphosphonates and other drugs against osteoporosis between 1996 and 2006 (n = 103,562) were the exposed group and three age- and gender-matched controls from the general population (n = 310,683) were the nonexposed group. The main outcome measure was atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Before initiation of treatment against osteoporosis, no excess of atrial fibrillation or flutter was present for any drug except for etidronate (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.15–1.29). After initiation of treatment, raloxifene was not associated with any excess risk of atrial fibrillation (OR = 0.98, 95% CI 0.72–1.33). Etidronate (HR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.02–1.14) and alendronate (HR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.00–1.20) were associated with an excess risk of atrial fibrillation after treatment start if statistical adjustments were made for cardiovascular disease. However, this association disappeared upon statistical adjustment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (etidronate HR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.98–1.10; alendronate HR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.96–1.15). In patients using etidronate (12.5% vs. 3.8%) and alendronate (11.4% vs. 4.6%) major differences were present in prevalence of COPD at start of treatment compared to matched controls. In conclusion, oral bisphosphonates do not seem to be associated with an excess risk of atrial fibrillation. Any excess risk seen in prior studies may be due to confounding from COPD.     

Long‐term outcomes of antithymocyte globulin in patients with hematological malignancies undergoing myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) has shown efficacy in preventing acute GVHD (aGVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo‐HCT), but its efficacy in chronic GVHD (cGVHD) and long‐term outcomes remains controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to evaluate potential benefit and risk of prophylactic ATG use in myeloablative HCT. We searched Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane databases, and included 10 trials (two RCTs and eight retrospective) comparing ATG use vs. control with a total of 1859 patients. The median follow‐ups were over two yr. Outcomes assessed included overall cGVHD, extensive cGVHD, overall survival (OS), disease‐free survival, relapse, and causes of death. Our results showed ATG significantly decreased overall cGVHD (RR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.53–0.66, p < 0.00001), extensive cGVHD (RR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.25–0.47, p < 0.00001). Pooled results also showed ATG use was associated with a marginal increased risk of relapse (RR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.01–1.63, p = 0.04), and a non‐inferior OS (HR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.74–1.01, p = 0.06). We conclude prophylactic use of ATG exerts a favorable effect in reducing cGVHD without survival impairment in a long term, although a higher relapse rate is a major threat.     

Induction immunosuppression agents as risk factors for incident cardiovascular events and mortality after kidney transplantation

Low T cell counts and acute rejection are associated with increased cardiovascular events (CVEs); T cell–depleting agents decrease both. Thus, we aimed to characterize the risk of CVEs by using an induction agent used in kidney transplant recipients. We conducted a secondary data analysis of patients who received a kidney transplant and used Medicare as their primary insurance from 1999 to 2010. Outcomes of interest were incident CVE, all‐cause mortality, CVE‐related mortality, and a composite outcome of mortality and CVE. Of 47 258 recipients, 29.3% received IL‐2 receptor antagonist (IL‐2RA), 33.3% received anti‐thymocyte globulin (ATG), 7.3% received alemtuzumab, and 30.0% received no induction. Compared with IL‐2RA, there was no difference in the risk of CVE in the ATG (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.92‐1.05) and alemtuzumab group (aHR 1.01, 95% CI 0.89‐1.16), but slightly higher in the no induction group (aHR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00‐1.14). Acute rejection did not modify this association in the latter group but did increase CVE by 46% in the alemtuzumab group. There was no difference in the hazard of all‐cause or CVE‐related mortality. Only in the ATG group, a 7% lower hazard of the composite outcome of mortality and CVE was noted. Induction agents are not associated with incident CVE, although prospective trials are needed to determine a personalized approach to prevention.     

Proximal aortic repair in dialysis patients: A national database analysis

ObjectivesDialysis is a well-established risk factor for morbidity and mortality after cardiovascular procedures. However, little is known regarding the outcomes of proximal aortic surgery in this high-risk cohort.MethodsPerioperative (in-hospital or 30-day mortality) and 10-year outcomes were analyzed for all the patients who underwent open proximal aortic repair with the diagnosis of nonruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm (aneurysm, n = 325) or type A aortic dissection (dissection, n = 461) from 1987 to 2015 using the US Renal Data System database.ResultsIn patients with aneurysm, perioperative mortality was 12.6%. The 10-year mortality was 81% ± 3%. Age 65 years or more (hazard ratio [HR], 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 1.78; P = .03), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.01-2.82; P = .047), and Black race (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.09-1.97; P = .01) were independently associated with worse 10-year mortality. In patients with dissection, perioperative mortality was 24.3% and 10-year mortality was 87.9% ± 2.2%. Age 65 years or more (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.19-1.86; P < .001), congestive heart failure (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.11-2.57; P = .004), and diabetes mellitus as the cause of dialysis (HR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.2-2.57; P = .004) were independently associated with worse 10-year mortality. Black race (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.6-0.92; P = .008) was associated with a better outcome.ConclusionsWe described challenging perioperative and 10-year outcomes for dialysis patients undergoing proximal aortic repair. The present study suggests the need for careful patient selection in the elective repair of proximal aortic aneurysm for dialysis-dependent patients, whereas it affirms the feasibility of emergency surgery for acute type A aortic dissections.     

Short‐term outcomes of deceased donor renal transplants of HCV uninfected recipients from HCV seropositive nonviremic donors and viremic donors in the era of direct‐acting antivirals

The United States opioid use epidemic over the past decade has coincided with an increase in hepatitis C virus  (HCV) positive donors. Using propensity score matching, and the Organ Procurement Transplant Network data files from January 2015 to June 2019, we analyzed the short‐term outcomes of adult deceased donor kidney transplants of HCV uninfected recipients with two distinct groups of HCV positive donors (HCV seropositive, nonviremic n = 352 and viremic n = 196) compared to those performed using HCV uninfected donors (n = 36 934). Compared to the reference group, the transplants performed using HCV seropositive, nonviremic and viremic donors experienced a lower proportion of delayed graft function (35.2 vs 18.9%; P < .001 [HCV seropositive, nonviremic donors] and 36.2 vs 16.8% ;  P < .001[HCV viremic donors]). The recipients of HCV viremic donors had better allograft function at 6 months posttransplant (eGFR [54.1 vs 68.3 mL/min/1.73 m2; P = .004]. Furthermore, there was no statistical difference in the overall graft failure risk at 12 months posttransplant by propensity score matched multivariable Cox proportional analysis (HR =  0.60, 95% CI  0.23 to  1.29 [HCV seropositive, nonviremic donors] and HR =  0.85, 95% CI 0.25 to  2.96 [HCV viremic donors]). Further studies are required to determine the long‐term outcomes of these transplants and address unanswered questions regarding the use of HCV viremic donors.     

The impact of wait list body mass index changes on the outcome after liver transplantation

Obesity is associated with poor health outcomes in the general population, but the evidence surrounding the effect of body mass index (BMI) on postliver transplantation survival is contradictory. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of wait list BMI and BMI changes on the outcomes after liver transplantation. Using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we compared survival among different BMI categories and examined the impact of wait list BMI changes on post‐transplantation mortality for patients undergoing liver transplantation. Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression was carried out to adjust for confounding factors. Among 38 194 recipients, underweight patients had a poorer survival compared with normal weight (HR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.13–1.49). Conversely, overweight and mildly obese men experienced better survival rates compared with their lean counterparts (HR = 0.9, 95% CI: 0.84–0.96, and HR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.79–0.93 respectively). Female patients gaining weight over 18.5 kg/m² while on the wait list showed improving outcomes (HR = 0.46, (95% CI: 0.28–0.76)) compared with those remaining underweight. This study supports the harmful impact of underweight on postliver transplant survival, and highlights the need for a specific monitoring and management of candidates with BMIs close to 18.5 kg/m². Obesity does not constitute an absolute contraindication to liver transplantation.     

Multiorgan procurement is associated with a survival benefit after heart transplantation

We assessed the impact of donor multiorgan procurement on survival following orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). From the UNOS STAR database, we included all adult (≥18 Y) heart transplants (OHT) performed since 2000 and used donor IDs to determine how many other organs were procured from the same donor as the recipient's heart allograft (regardless of recipient). The Kaplan-Meier survival functions and risk-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models were computed to assess the association of multiorgan procurement with post–heart transplantation mortality. We included 40 336 OHT patients. Including the heart, the median number of donor organs procured was 3 (IQR, 3-4). Heart donors underwent liver procurement in 89.7%; kidney(s) in 98.1% (single 95%, bilateral 5%); lung(s) in 38.0% (single 28%, bilateral 72%); pancreas in 10.4%; and intestine in 1.6%. Following risk adjustment across 16 recipient- and donor-specific variables, an increasing number of organs procured were independently associated with reduced post-OHT mortality (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-0.99, P = .025). Though no significant associations were found examining specific organ types, double lung procurement trended toward a protective effect (HR 0.96, 0.92-1.01, P = .086), with counts of non-lung organs procured still bordering on significance (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-1.00, P = .067). These results likely reflect improved multiorgan donor quality.     

Donor history of malignancy: A limited risk for heart transplant recipients

Organ donor contraindications are frequently reassessed for impact on recipient outcomes in attempt to meet demand for transplantation. This study retrospectively analyzed the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) registry for adult heart transplants from 1987 to September 2016 to characterize the impact of donor malignancy history in heart transplantation. Kaplan-Meier estimates illustrated 10-year survival. Propensity score matching was utilized for 1:1 matching of donors with and without history of malignancy, and Cox proportional hazards and logistic regressions were used to analyze the matched population. Of 38 781 heart transplants, 622 (1.6%) had a donor history of malignancy. Cox regressions demonstrated that donor malignancy predicted increased 10-year mortality (HR = 1.16 [1.01-1.33]), but this difference did not persist when conditioned upon 1 year post-transplant survival (log-rank = 0.643). Cox regressions of the propensity score-matched population (455 pairs) found no association between donor malignancy and 10-year mortality (HR = 1.02 [0.84-1.24]). Older age and higher rates of hypertension were observed in donors with a history of malignancy whose recipients died within the first year post-transplant. Therefore, increased recipient mortality is likely due to donor characteristics beyond malignancy, creating the potential for expanded donor selection.     

Posttransplant muscle mass measured by urinary creatinine excretion rate predicts long‐term outcomes after liver transplantation

Long‐term survival in orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients remains impaired because of many contributing factors, including a low pretransplant muscle mass (or sarcopenia). However, influence of posttransplant muscle mass on survival is currently unknown. We hypothesized that posttransplant urinary creatinine excretion rate (CER), an established noninvasive marker of total body muscle mass, is associated with long‐term survival after OLT. In a single‐center cohort study of 382 adult OLT recipients, mean ± standard deviation CER at 1 year posttransplantation was 13.3 ± 3.7 mmol/24 h in men and 9.4 ± 2.6 mmol/24 h in women. During median follow‐up for 9.8 y (interquartile range 6.4‐15.0 y), 104 (27.2%) OLT recipients died and 44 (11.5%) developed graft failure. In Cox regression analyses, as continuous variable, low CER was associated with increased risk for mortality (HR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.26‐0.71, P = .001) and graft failure (HR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.20‐0.90, P = .03), independent of age, sex, and body surface area. Similarly, OLT recipients in the lowest tertile had an increased risk for mortality (HR = 2.69; 95% CI: 1.47‐4.91, P = .001) and graft failure (HR = 2.77, 95% CI: 1.04‐7.39, P = .04), compared to OLT recipients in the highest tertile. We conclude that 1 year posttransplant low total body muscle mass is associated with long‐term risk of mortality and graft failure in OLT recipients.     

Pulmonary vascular resistance determines mortality in end‐stage renal disease patients with pulmonary hypertension

The multifactorial etiology of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) includes patients with and without elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). We explored the prognostic implication of this distinction by evaluating pretransplant ESRD patients who underwent right heart catheterization and echocardiography. Demographics, clinical data, and test results were analyzed. All‐cause mortality data were obtained. Median follow‐up was 4 years. Of the 150 patients evaluated, echocardiography identified 99 patients (66%) with estimated pulmonary artery (PA) systolic pressure > 36 mm Hg, which correlated poorly with mortality (HR = 1.28, 95% CI 0.72‐2.27, P = .387). Right heart catheterization identified 88 (59%) patients with mean PA pressure ≥ 25 mm Hg. Of these, 70 had PVR ≤ 3 Wood units and 18 had PVR > 3 Wood units. Survival analysis demonstrated a significant prognostic effect of an elevated PVR in patients with high mean PA pressures (HR = 2.26, 95% CI 1.07‐4.77, P = .03), while patients with high mean PA pressure and normal PVR had equivalent survival to those with normal PA pressure. Despite the high prevalence of PH in ESRD patients, elevated PVR is uncommon and is a determinant of prognosis in patients with PH. Patients with normal PVR had survival equivalent to those with normal PA pressures.     

Risk of Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Is Reduced in Users of Alendronate

To study the risk of developing type 1 (T1D) or type 2 (T2D) diabetes among users of drugs against osteoporosis compared to nonusers. Nationwide cohort study in Denmark with all users of drugs against osteoporosis (n = 103,562) as exposed and three age- and sex-matched nondiabetic control subjects (n = 310,683) randomly selected from the background population. The main outcome variable was an incident diagnosis of diabetes after the baseline date. Among users of alendronate, etidronate, and raloxifene, no change in the risk of T1D was observed. However, the risk of developing T2D was reduced with all three drugs (alendronate: hazard ratio [HR] = 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59–0.85, etidronate: HR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.69–0.86, raloxifene: HR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.25–0.87). For alendronate, a dose-dependent risk reduction was observed (≥1 defined daily dose (DDD) per day: HR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.12–0.41, P for trend <0.01), while this was not the case for etidronate and raloxifene. Antiresorptive drugs do not seem associated with an increased risk of diabetes, but they may perhaps provide a protective effect related to the suppression of bone turnover. However, further studies are needed.     

Utility of the INTERMACS profile at the time of assessment for heart transplant

The Interagency Registry of Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) profiles are associated with mortality in heart failure patients undergoing ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation and heart transplantation (HTx). We assessed the prognostic value of the INTERMACS profile at the time of assessment for HTx or durable VAD implantation as bridge to candidacy (BTC). A total of 503 consecutive patients considered for HTx or VAD between 2006 and 2016 were included. The associations between INTERMACS profile and (a) waitlist mortality or delisting, (b) probability of HTx, and (c) overall mortality or delisting were evaluated using multivariable analysis. Median follow-up time was 2.9 years (IQR: 0.9-5.5) during which 184 received VAD, 347 received HTx, and 73 died (27 waitlist, 46 post-transplant). INTERMACS I-II profile was associated with higher waitlist mortality or delisting (HR: 3.83, 95% CI: 1.22-12.03), and this risk was reversed by VAD implantation (HR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03-0.50). INTERMACS III-IV profile was associated with a higher probability of HTx (HR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.37-2.40). INTERMACS profile was not associated with the composite outcome of overall mortality or delisting. These results emphasize the prognostic utility of INTERMACS at time of decision for advanced therapies and its potential value in selecting patients for different interventions.     

Predicting the survival benefit of local surgery in patients aged 70 years or older with stage IV breast cancer: A population-based analysis

PurposeThe aim of this study was to establish individualized nomograms to predict survival outcomes in older female patients with stage IV breast cancer who did or did not undergo local surgery, and to determine which patients could benefit from surgery.MethodsA total of 3,129 female patients with stage IV breast cancer aged ≥70 years between 2010 and 2015 were included in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for overall survival (OS) and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS). Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan–Meier plot and log-rank test. Nomograms and risk stratification models were constructed.ResultsPatients who underwent surgery had better OS (HR = 0.751, 95% CI [0.668–0.843], P < 0.001) and BCSS (HR = 0.713, 95% CI [0.627–0.810], P < 0.001) than patients who did not undergo surgery. Patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive, lung or liver metastases may not benefit from surgery. In the stratification model, low-risk patients benefited from surgery (OS, HR = 0.688, 95% CI [0.568–0.833], P < 0.001; BCSS, HR = 0.632, 95% CI [0.509–0.784], P < 0.001), while patients in the high-risk group had similar outcomes (OS, HR = 0.920, 95% CI [0.709–1.193], P = 0.509; BCSS, HR = 0.953, 95% CI [0.713–1.275], P = 0.737).ConclusionOlder female patients with stage IV breast cancer who underwent surgery had better OS and BCSS than those who did not in each specific subgroup. Patients in low- or intermediate-risk group benefit from surgery while those in the high-risk group do not.     

Outcome Following Local‐Regional Recurrence in Women with Early‐Stage Breast Cancer: Impact of Biologic Subtype

Local‐regional recurrence (LRR) after breast‐conserving therapy (BCT) can result in distant metastasis and decreased disease‐free survival (DFS). This study examines factors associated with DFS following LRR. The initial population included 2,233 consecutive women who underwent BCT from 1998 to 2007. Biologic subtype was approximated using a combination of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and tumor grade. Cumulative incidence of DFS after LRR was calculated. The association of clinical, pathologic, and treatment parameters with DFS was evaluated using a Cox regression model. At a median follow‐up of 105 months, 82 patients (3.7%) had a LRR. Of these, 66 (80%) were in‐breast and 16 (20%) involved the ipsilateral lymph nodes. Twenty patients subsequently developed distant metastases. Five‐year DFS after initial recurrence was 69.6% for the overall cohort. On univariate analysis, triple‐negative disease (ER/PR/HER2 negative, TNBC) was associated with reduced DFS (HR = 3.8; 95% CI: 1.8–8.1; p < 0.001). Other factors associated with reduced DFS were larger tumor size (HR = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.03–1.6; p = 0.02), shorter interval from initial diagnosis to LRR (HR = 0.98 per month; 95% CI: 0.97–0.99; p = 0.02), and no salvage surgery (HR = 0.2; 95% CI: 0.09–0.5; p = 0.001). On multivariate analysis, TNBC remained the most significant factor associated with reduced DFS (HR = 4.8; 95% CI: 2.25–10.4; p < 0.001). Compared to women with luminal A disease, those with TNBC had significantly worse DFS (37.5% versus 88.3% at 5 years; p < 0.001). Women with TNBC who developed LRR were at high risk of subsequent recurrence. Efforts should be targeted toward both preventing initial recurrence and decreasing subsequent metastasis.     

Hip Arthroplasty Outcomes in the Presence of Kidney Failure: A National Data Linkage Study

BackgroundPatients who have kidney failure are at higher risk of requiring total hip arthroplasty (THA) and are at higher risk of complications. This study compared the rate of revision surgery and mortality following THA between patients who have kidney failure receiving long term dialysis or who had a kidney transplant and those who did not have kidney failure.MethodsA data linkage study was performed using data from 2 national registries: a registry of dialysis and kidney transplant patients and a registry of THA procedures. Both registries had coverage of almost all procedures or treatments in Australia. Data from September 1999 to December 2016 were used. Mortality and revision surgery were compared between patients receiving dialysis, those who had a functioning kidney transplant, and patients who did not have kidney failure using Cox and Fine-Gray (competing risk) regression models. A total of 383,478 primary THA procedures were identified as people receiving dialysis (n = 490), who had a functioning kidney transplant (n = 459), or who did not have kidney failure (n = 382,529).ResultsThere was no significant difference in the overall rate of revision surgery between the groups (dialysis versus no kidney failure HR = 1.20; 95% CI 0.76, 1.88, transplant versus no kidney failure (hazard ratio) HR = 1.01; 95% (confidence interval) CI 0.66, 1.53). The risk for death after surgery was significantly higher in the dialysis group compared to both the functioning transplant group (HR = 3.44; 95%CI 1.58, 7.5), and in those without kidney failure (HR = 4.13; 95%CI 3.25, 5.25).ConclusionThe rate of mortality after THA in patients on dialysis is higher than in patients who have a functioning transplant or those who do not have kidney failure, but there is no early excess mortality to suggest a difference in this metric due to the surgery.     

Comparison of Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Renal Transplantation With Impaired vs Normal Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction

BackgroundRenal transplantation improves long-term outcomes in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD); however, patients with impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are less likely to be selected for renal transplantation. We sought to evaluate the effect of renal transplantation in this population.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated 181 patients who underwent renal transplantation between 2011 and 2016. For patients with pretransplant LVEF <50% (cohort 1) and ≥50% (cohort 2), we evaluated the effect of renal transplantation on LVEF, graft failure, and mortality.ResultsCohort 1 comprised 24 patients (mean age, 47 years; pretransplant LVEF 38%). Cohort 2 comprised 157 patients (mean age, 53 years; pretransplant LVEF 64%). Forty-six percent of cohort 1 experienced significant improvement in LVEF posttransplant, with mean LVEF improvement from 38% to 66%. There was no significant association between pretransplant LVEF and graft failure (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6-11.4; P = .1) or mortality (HR = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.3-3.6; P = .9). Coronary artery disease predicted mortality (HR = 3.12; 95% CI, 1.2-8.4; P = .02). Older age trended toward higher mortality (HR = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.0-1.1; P = .05). Younger age predicted graft failure (HR = 0.96; 95% CI, 0.8-0.9; P = .02).ConclusionsIn patients with ESRD undergoing renal transplantation, there was no significant association between pretransplant LVEF and mortality or graft failure, suggesting that patients with ESRD with impaired LVEF can experience positive posttransplant outcomes.