Panel-reactive screening and treatment practices following bridge to transplantation ventricular assist device placement.
The use of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) as a bridge to transplantation is associated with the development of circulating antibodies. We conducted a survey of all adult cardiac transplantation programs in the United States in an attempt to define current practices with regard to LVAD implantation, monitoring panel-reactive antibody (PRA) levels, treatment options, and peritransplantation management. Pretransplantation sensitization with the use of LVAD is a concern to the majority of transplantation professionals and there is no consensus on the need or mode of treatment.
Freudenberger
R S
RS
Center for Advanced Heart Failure, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18103, USA.
Tawfik
I
I
Shinnar
M
M
Pendergast
T
T
D000328:Adult; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006085:Graft Survival; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires