Heart Transplantation

The RECOVER study, titled Cardiac Rehabilitation Cohort at the Medicine Campus Davos for Exploration of Recovery, is a prospective, non-interventional, monocentric cohort study conducted at the Hochgebirgsklinik Davos. The study is sponsored by Medicine Campus Davos AG and the Kühne Foundation, with an estimated start date in July 2025 and planned completion by December 2034, with the possibility of extension. The principal investigator of the study is PD Dr. David Niederseer from Hochgebirgsklinik Davos, who also represents the study. The research team includes co-investigators such as Prof. Dr. Stefan Blankenberg and Prof. Dr. Andreas Ziegler from Cardio-CARE, Medicine Campus Davos, as well as Dr. Jan Vontobel from Hochgebirgsklinik Davos. The study will enroll patients referred to Hochgebirgsklinik Davos for cardiac rehabilitation who provide informed consent. Cardiac rehabilitation is an evidence-based therapy for patients with heart disease, including those who have undergone cardiac procedures or surgeries. The primary objectives are to evaluate baseline patient characteristics, rehabilitation strategies, predictors of recovery, and clinical outcomes during and after rehabilitation. To support this, a detailed database and biobank will be established to allow for comprehensive phenotyping, extensive clinical assessments, and long-term follow-up. RECOVER seeks to gain translational insights into how patient-specific factors - such as genetics, plasma, digital and clinical biomarkers, and comorbidities - influence long-term clinical outcomes. The goal is to identify modifiable risk factors to optimize individualized therapeutic approaches in cardiac rehabilitation.

TORCH-LATAM-003 is a pragmatic stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial evaluating a regional pathway for children and adults with congenital heart disease and advanced cardiac and/or respiratory failure who may require heart, lung, or heart-lung transplantation, mechanical circulatory or extracorporeal support, or another regulated advanced-therapy pathway. Clusters transition from usual local pathways to TORCH-CATP. The primary outcome is completion of the prespecified multidisciplinary evaluation and documentation of an advanced-pathway decision within 90 days after enrollment. The study also evaluates barriers, authorized pathway or waiting-list activation, longitudinal status, advanced support, definitive therapy, and clinical outcomes. Donor-organ and matching events are captured only where legally authorized and do not replace national allocation systems or transplant-center decisions.

TORCH-LATAM-002 is a pragmatic stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial evaluating an integrated regional pathway for adults with advanced heart failure who require specialized heart transplant evaluation and a documented candidacy decision. Participating network clusters transition from usual local pathways to the TORCH Adult Heart Transplant Evaluation and Candidacy Pathway. The primary outcome is completion of multidisciplinary evaluation and a documented transplant-candidacy decision within 90 days after enrollment. The study also examines pathway activation, barriers, clinical outcomes, waiting-list trajectories, and traceable donor-organ opportunities. Enrollment does not constitute placement on an official waiting list, organ allocation, or authorization of cross-border care.

The investigators developed a protocol to isolate Treg cells from thymic tissue (thyTreg) discarded in pediatric cardiac surgeries. After completing the pre-clinical studies, the investigators have initiated a phase I/II clinical trial to test the safety and efficacy of the adoptive transfer of autologous thyTreg to prevent rejection in heart transplant children. Condition or disease: Heart Transplantation Intervention/treatment: Regulatory T Cell (Treg) Infusion

TORCH-LATAM-004 is a pragmatic stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial evaluating a regional pathway for adults with advanced heart failure secondary to acquired or structural heart disease who may require heart or combined transplantation, mechanical circulatory or extracorporeal support, advanced structural intervention, or another regulated advanced-therapy pathway. Clusters transition from usual local pathways to TORCH-AATP. The primary outcome is completion of the prespecified multidisciplinary evaluation and documentation of an advanced-pathway decision within 90 days after enrollment. The study also evaluates barriers, authorized pathway or waiting-list activation, longitudinal status, mechanical support, definitive therapy, external regulated pathways, and clinical outcomes. Donor-organ and matching events are captured only where legally authorized and do not replace national allocation systems or transplant-center decisions.

The goal of this observational study is to systematically assess the presence and distribution of CMR-defined inflammation and fibrosis in clinically stable HT recipients with DSA detected during active screening for AMR surveillance. The main outcome is to study the prevalence of fibrosis, edema and of altered T1 mapping values in patients with DSA and the prevalence of patients with DSA among all the enrolled patients

The goal of this study is to evaluate if hypertonic saline solution can prevent or attenuate acute kidney injury after heart transplantation in the early postoperative phase.

The SweD-HTx-study is an observational, multicenter cohort study including adult HTx recipients from Skåne University Hospital (Lund), Sahlgrenska University Hospital (Gothenburg), and Karolinska University Hospital (Stockholm). The aim of the study is to establish a robust, nationwide protocol for dd-cfDNA-based rejection monitoring in Swedish HTx recipients and to enhance our understanding of rejection mechanisms and immune activation. All participants undergo endomyocardial biopsies as part of routine post-transplant surveillance. Heart transplantations are performed at Skåne University Hospital or Sahlgrenska University Hospital, with post-transplant follow-up conducted at the outpatient transplant clinics at the participating centers. Eligible participants are adults (≥18 years) who undergo orthotopic HTx. Exclusion criteria include pregnancy, multi-organ transplantation, or a history of other solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Peripheral blood samples are collected according to standardized operating procedures and transported at ambient temperature to the immunology laboratory for processing. A subset of samples is immediately cryopreserved upon collection. Clinical and demographic data are extracted from the electronic medical record (EMR) using standardized data collection forms. The main outcome is the correlation between analyzed dd-cfDNA fraction levels and biopsy-proven rejection, defined by International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT)'s histopathological criteria. The longitudinal changes in dd-cfDNA fraction and DSA will be analyzed as well as the association between DSA and dd-cfDNA fraction.

The evolution of systemic microvascular reactivity may aid in the comprehension of cardiovascular physiology in heart transplantation patients, and possibly suggest the non-invasive evaluation of skin microcirculation as an ancillary tool in the clinical evaluation of these patients.

The investigators are doing this study to compare approaches to cold storage of donor hearts during transportation. The adjustable temperature RYOBI cooler should allow precise temperature control while reducing environmental waste and providing a cost savings benefit when compared to the commercially available, FDA-approved Paragonix SherpaPak device.

There are many barriers to heart-healthy lifestyles in pediatric patients with acquired and congenital heart disease. Investigators want to further understand how participants heart and skeletal muscles work together during exercise and evaluate the impact on cardiac function. To do this, the investigators will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to scan the heart and skeletal muscles during exercises to assess blood flow, oxygenation and function.

The goal of this prospective randomized single blind multicenter phase II study is to compare organ perfusion with Custodiol-N and Custodiol in heart transplantation in children of all ages (birth to \<18 years) being listed on the waiting list for heart transplantation. The main question it aims to answer is: to compare the safety of Custodiol-N in heart transplantation in children in comparison to its precursor product Custodiol. Participants will receive either a heart to be transplanted, either perfused with Custodiol-N or Custodiol to Researchers will compare the two solutions to see if the new solution Custodiol-N is safe in heart transplantation in children.

METAB-HTX is a prospective, longitudinal cohort study evaluating cardiac and systemic metabolism in heart transplant recipients.

The goal of this observational study is to pursue a multimodal approach to identify the molecular signatures and immune signalling molecules of various myocardial diseases and thereby contribute to improving diagnosis and therapy. The main aim is: -Identification of molecular profiles (e.g., proteome, lipidome, metabolome) and immune signalling profiles that are specifically associated with different myocardial diseases and the post-heart transplantation course. Participants already receiving an endomyocardial biopsy as part of their regular medical care will be enrolled. An additional biopsy sample will be taken for the above mentioned research.

Evaluation of pericoronary adipocyte gradient (PCAT) in relationship with local atherosclerotic changes in a patient undergoing heart transplantation.

Background Pregnancy after all types of solid organ transplantation (SOT) is possible, although these have higher risk of pregnancy complications for mother and child, such as preeclampsia and preterm birth. Thus, the development of the unborn child seems to be affected by the transplant and its consequences such as the immunosuppressive medication use. Worldwide data regarding follow-up after birth is scarce. The very limited existing data existing only in young children are reassuring. However, the investigators hypothesize that there are health risks for the children. Given the side effects of the immunosuppressive medication on patients and limited knowledge from animal studies, the investigators particularly expect cardiovascular effects such as hypertension and kidney damage. These develop over a long time-period and lead late to symptoms. Aims Aim of this study is to gain more insight into the overall health of offspring born after SOT. Primary aim is to assess the cardiovascular health and the presence of kidney disease, and compare these with reference values from the general population or birth cohorts. Secondary aims are the immunological status including the microbiome of the child given the maternal immunosuppressive medication use, and the overall development of the offspring, including qualitative research regarding the quality of life. Third aim is to assess if there are differences in health between offspring born to mothers with a kidney, liver, pancreas (including pancreas islet), heart and lung transplantation (KTx, LiTx, PTx, HTx, LuTx resp.). The investigators also want to establish a biobank for later follow-up research. Study design This will be a cross-sectional monocenter cohort study. All offspring ≥16 years of age born after KTx or LiTx and all offspring born at any age after PTx, HTx and LuTx in the Netherlands will be eligible for inclusion. The investigators estimate that there will be about 150(-220) participants. Before the study visit, participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire. Participants will be invited for a one-time study visit consisting of physical tests (including ultrasound of the kidneys and a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement) and biological sample (urine, blood and feces) collection, including sample collection for biobanking. Information about the growth and development of the offspring and, if present, diseases and medication use will be collected from the medical files of the general practitioner and pharmacy (LSP) and from data from the youth healthcare check-ups. As a control group pseudoanonymized data from the Lifelines cohort will be used. Deliverables To the best of our knowledge, this will be the first study worldwide that will gather and analyze detailed information about the cardiovascular, kidney and immunological health at a later age (≥16 years) in the offspring born to mothers after KTx, LiTx, PTx, HTx and LuTx. This information will be important for the preconceptional counseling of families with a pregnancy wish after transplantation and thereby contribute to the health of women with a SOT. Next to that, find adverse effects of the pregnancy after transplantation on the offspring are found, the investigators expect there will be modifiable factors and/or early screening/interventions that can reduce these risks and thereby contribute to the health of the offspring.

The purpose of this study is to determine if Belatacept is safe to give to adult heart transplant recipients. Belatacept (NULOJIX) is an anti-rejection medication that is available through a prescription from a doctor. In this research study, belatacept is being used in an investigational manner (not for the purpose that it is approved for).

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate whether molecular analysis of donor heart biopsies taken at the time of organ removal ("Time Zero") can help predict the future function and rejection risk of the transplanted heart in adult transplant recipients. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can early molecular injury in the donor heart, caused by brain death or circulatory death, be detected at the time of organ removal? * Can these early molecular findings predict short-, mid-, and long-term transplant outcomes, such as graft function or rejection? Participants will: * Include heart donors whose hearts are being transplanted (both standard and marginal donors, including DBD and DCD cases) * Provide two small biopsies from the donor heart at the time of organ removal: one for routine pathology, one for microarray-based molecular analysis * Have routine follow-up biopsies after transplantation as part of standard care (no additional procedures required beyond medical standard) Researchers will compare biopsy results from different donor types (standard vs. marginal, DBD vs. DCD) to see if early molecular signals are linked to later heart transplant outcomes.

To investigate whether the use of haemoadsorption (HA) on cardiopulmonary bypass during heart transplantation (HTX) has an effect on circulating cytokine levels for the first 120 hours after HTX and induces a decreased inflammatory response, increased anti-inflammatory response or immunosuppressive response. Additionally, the influence of HA on primary graft dysfunction, postoperative cerebral dysfunction, postoperative fluid accumulation, renal dysfunction, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU-stay and 30-day mortality should be investigated

The study aims to identify new diagnostic and prognostic markers for CMP that can help predict disease progression. In particular, the study will focus on microRNAs (miRNAs) and spatial transcriptomics, which are emerging techniques that may provide insights into the underlying disease mechanisms. By understanding these markers, the investigators hope to improve the way the investigators diagnose and manage CMP, particularly in terms of predicting progression to heart failure or heart transplantation. The study will evaluate patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (e.g., sarcomeric forms, Anderson-Fabry disease, AL, and TTR cardiac amyloidosis), dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. These patients will undergo clinical evaluations, including ECG, echocardiograms, CMR, biopsy analysis, and genetic testing, as well as molecular studies such as transcriptomics and miRNA analysis. This comprehensive approach aims to identify potential new biomarkers for diagnosing and predicting the disease course.

The goal of this clinical trial is to demonstrate that a multiparametric approach, based on the integration of biomolecular, histological, imaging, and clinical information, along with the use of machine learning methods, can identify among heart transplant patients those at higher risk of rejection, infectious events, and chronic graft dysfunction. Patients have been and will be treated according to clinical practice, in accordance with the physician's judgment and the information provided in the Technical Data Sheet of each individual product used in concomitant therapies, if administered according to clinical practice. The diagnostic-therapeutic pathway of the patients will not be in any way influenced by the results of tissue tests performed for the purposes of the study

This is an observational, low risk tissue based, non-pharmacological, retrospective-prospective study for adults heart and liver transplant patients, related to IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna (IRCCS AOUBO). This clinical study is part of the national multicentric project DARE. The project has the wide overarching aim to develop digital solutions for personalized healthcare.

The goal of this observational study is to create an electronic registry of patients diagnosed with Advanced Heart Failure or Heart Transplant, starting from 01/01/1985 and to assess the incidence of Advanced Heart Failure and Heart Transplant, and characterize patients affected by the first or undergoing the second procedure, starting from 01/01/1985. The primary outcomes are: * Hospitalization for cardiovascular cause * Death

CASTLE-VT is a randomized evaluation of prophylactic ablative treatment of arrhythmogenic ventricular scar in patients referred for HTx evaluation and diagnosed with ICM. Ablation will be performed with the use of a substrate-based approach in which the myocardial scar is mapped and ablated while the heart remains predominantly in sinus rhythm. The primary end point is the composite of all-cause mortality, worsening of HF requiring prioritized transplantation or LVAD implantation. The main secondary study end points are all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, incidence of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy, hospitalizations, Quality of life, time to first ICD therapy, number of device-detected ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation episodes, LV function, and exercise tolerance. CASTLE-VT will randomize 160 patients with a follow up period of 2 years.

Context Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a frequent and potentially severe event in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Most of available treatment display adverse effects that limit their use. Therefore, in case of an infection, it is of primary importance to identify the patients at high risk of severe infection and/or disease, and who ill benefit the most from antiviral therapy. As CMV infection is mainly controlled by cellular immunity, measuring specific anti-CMV T lymphocyte immunity could be an interesting tool for identifying these at-risk individuals. One of these tests is the QuantiFERON-CMV (QF-CMV) assay (QuiagenTM, Courtabœuf, France). Aim of the study The aim of the study is to determine the extent to which the QF-CMV can be use to identify, among SOT recipients with a CMV viremia, those that may not need antiviral therapy. Methods Participation to the study will be proposed to SOT recipients with an asymptomatic CMV infection with a blood viral load between 1,000 and 15,000 IU/mL. The QF-CMV will be performed in included participants, and the result will be given or not to the clinician in charge (according to the attributed group through randomisation). * In the group without result communication, the clinician in charge will determine whether a treatment is needed according to the guidelines and the local practices. * in the group with result communication, the clinician in charge will be advised not to introduce antiviral therapy if the result is positive, and to determine whether a treatment is needed according to the guidelines and the local practices if the result is positive. In the following weeks, the viral load will be monitored, along with creatininemia, cell blood count, and kalemia (to detect antiviral adverse effect). The participants will be sampled: * 5 to 12 days after QF-CMV sampling (V2) ; * 7 to 14 days days after V2 (V3 - between D12 and D26) ; * 7 to 14 days days after V3 (V4 - between D19 and D40) . Endpoints The primary endpoint is the rate of uncontrolled infection 5 to 12 days after QF-CMV sampling, defined as follows: * Blood CMV viral load \>10,000 IU/mL \[4 log\]; * And/or increase in blood viral load ≥0.5 log IU/mL with CV otherwise \>5000 IU/mL; * And/or the onset of CMV disease. The secondary endpoint is the is the occurrence antiviral adverse effects (hematoxicity or nephrotoxicity).