Naga Dharmavaram, MD, a fellow at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics and colleagues speaks about Hearts From Donors With A History Of Drug Use Are Safe For Transplant.

Link to Abstract:
https://www.cardiovascularbusiness.com/topics/heart-failure/hearts-donors-history-drug-use-are-safe-transplant?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=cvb_news


Abstract -

Background: 
Prior research focused on historical data rather than looking at toxicological results at the time of organ donation. The goal of this study was to look at the long-term survival of heart transplants in the modern period, stratified by toxicological testing findings at the time of organ offer and comparing toxicology at the time of donation with factors based on reported history.

Methods: 
There were 23 748 adult heart transplants done between 2007 and 2017. A Toxicology Score was created using historical United Network for Organ Sharing data, and a Measured Toxicology Score was created using measured toxicology findings. The United Network for Organ Sharing Toxicology Score and Measured Toxicology Score, as well as Cox proportional hazards models with a range of risk variables, were used to look at survival.

Results: 
There were no changes in post-transplant death when using Cox proportional hazards models with toxicological and historical data. Toxicology-identified medication combinations were not linked to variations in survival. Lower donor age and ischemia duration were also shown to be substantially linked to survival (P0.0001).

Conclusions: 
Neither drug use history nor toxicological evidence of drug use was found to be linked with substantial variations in survival among donors approved for transplantation. Increasing the usage of these types of donors might assist to ease the persistent donor shortage.