title: Heart transplantation bridged by mechanical circulatory support in a HIV-positive patient.
abstract: We report on the unique clinical course of a 44-year-old male HIV-positive heart transplant recipient, who was bridged by mechanical circulatory support (MCS). The patient was admitted with acute ischemic heart failure due to severe myocardial infarction. After emergency coronary artery bypass grafting and nine days of extracorporeal life support, we implanted a left ventricular assist device. As HIV infection was effectively treated and other contraindications were not present, we decided to perform a heart transplantation (HTX). At the current time, 34 months after unremarkable HTX, rejection or opportunistic infections have not occurred.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehdiani
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petrov
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Payam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Akhyari
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Diyar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Pneumology and Angiology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Westenfeld
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lichtenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Boeken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors