Soluble CD30 levels in recipients undergoing heart transplantation do not predict post-transplant outcome.
BACKGROUND
The pre-transplant serum level of soluble CD30 (sCD30), a proteolytic derivative of the lymphocyte surface receptor CD30, has been suggested as a biomarker for immunologic risk after organ transplantation.


METHODS
Pre-transplant serum sCD30 levels were determined in 200 consecutive adult heart transplant recipients undertaken at a single center. Transplant outcome (acute rejection in the first 12 months and patient survival up to 5 years post-transplant) was determined.


RESULTS
Patients treated with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) prior to transplantation (n = 28) had higher levels of sCD30 (median 64 U/ml, range 12 to 112 U/ml) than those (n = 172) with no LVAD (median 36 U/ml, range 1 to 158 U/ml, p < 0.0001). Recipients were categorized according to whether sCD30 levels were "low" (lower quartile, <24 U/ml, n = 50), "intermediate" (24 to 58 U/ml, n = 100) or "high" (upper quartile, >58 U/ml, n = 50). Neither acute rejection nor recipient survival differed according to sCD30 level, with values (mean +/- SEM) of 0.30 +/- 0.04, 0.23 +/- 0.03 and 0.30 +/- 0.05 acute rejection episodes per 100 days in the low, intermediate and high groups, respectively, with recipient survival rates at 1 year of 77.7%, 84.9% and 86% and at 5 years of 73.6%, 67.9% and 75.8%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-transplant serum sCD30 level does not predict acute allograft rejection or recipient survival after heart transplantation, although sCD30 levels are increased by LVAD, possibly as a result of biomaterial-host immune interaction.
Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK.
Efthymios
E
Ypsilantis
Timothy
T
Key
J Andrew
JA
Bradley
C Helen
CH
Morgan
Stephen
S
Tsui
Jayan
J
Parameshwar
Craig J
CJ
Taylor
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D015703:Antigens, CD; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen