Is cytoimmunological monitoring a safe follow-up method for heart transplantation patients?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to show the effects of cytoimmunological monitoring and its role in the patient's follow-up period after heart transplantation.


METHODS
Between 2002 and 2009, 8 patients underwent heart transplantation at Gulhane Military Medical Academy Hospital. Seven patients were male. The average age was 43 ± 12 years. Donor hearts were implanted orthotopically in all patients. The patients were then subjected to cytoimmunological monitoring and endomyocardial biopsy. 431 laboratory blood tests were carried out for all patients to analyze their cytoimmunological profiles and diagnose a possible infection or rejection.


RESULTS
The total and average follow-up periods were 17.5 patient years and 30 ± 36 months (1-120 months), respectively. The first patient had two rejection episodes in 3 months. A viral infection was diagnosed in the third patient, who had painful muscle spasms in both lower limbs and the CD4/CD8 ratio was below 0.4. In the fourth patient, the CD4/CD8 ratio suddenly increased and a urinary infection was diagnosed. Only one patient passed away in the early period (less than 30 days). Four patients died because of an infection or hemodynamic deterioration within three months.


CONCLUSIONS
Cytoimmunological monitoring is a simple and effective technique of evaluating the patient's immunological profile. It may provide an adjunctive laboratory test and may decrease the number of endomyocardial biopsies.
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
Faruk
F
Cingoz
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
Celalettin
C
Gunay
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
Bilgehan Savas
BS
Oz
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
Mehmet
M
Arslan
cytoimmunologic monitoring; heart transplantation