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Matthew Rafiei

Bio: Matthew Rafiei is an academic researcher from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The author has contributed to research in topics: Heart transplantation & Transplantation. The author has an hindex of 12, co-authored 42 publications receiving 455 citations.

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Both HLA- and non-HLA–specific antibodies seem to impact graft outcome in heart transplantation, showing the increased negative impact of dnDSA and AT1R-ab on freedom from AMR and/or CMR and an increased hazard ratio when both parameters are considered.
Abstract: BACKGROUND De novo donor HLA-specific (dnDSA) and non-HLA antibodies including antiangiotensin type 1 receptor antibodies (AT1R-abs) have been associated with antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) and decreased graft survival as well as cellular-mediated rejection (CMR) and early onset of microvasculopathy in heart transplantation. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of anti-AT1R-ab and anti-donor HLA-specific antibody (DSA) on clinical outcomes. METHODS Pretransplant and posttransplant sera from 200 recipients transplanted between May 2007 and August 2011 were tested for DSA (Luminex-based single antigen bead assay) and AT1R-ab (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Two cutoff levels (≥ 17 and ≥ 12 units) were used to define high and intermediate binding of AT1R-ab. Clinical parameters examined were 5-year AMR/CMR (≥ grade 2), coronary artery vasculopathy, and survival. RESULTS At 2 years after transplant, freedom from AMR and/or CMR was 95.4% for those with no DSA (n=175), 66.9% for those with dnDSA (n=19), and 25% for those with DSA at transplant (n=6) (P<0.0001). Neither ≥ 17 nor ≥ 12 units of pretransplant levels indicated a significant difference in freedom from AMR and/or CMR. When both dnDSA and AT1R-ab ≥ 17 or ≥ 12 units were considered, freedom from AMR and/or CMR decreased to 50% and 45% (P<0.0001), respectively. Coronary artery vasculopathy and survival were not significantly impacted. CONCLUSIONS These results show the increased negative impact of dnDSA and AT1R-ab on freedom from AMR and/or CMR and an increased hazard ratio when both parameters are considered. Both HLA- and non-HLA-specific antibodies seem to impact graft outcome in heart transplantation.

105 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Chagas disease is a common cause of dilated cardiomyopathy in patients from endemic countries undergoing HTx at a transplant program in the United States and reactivation is common after transplantation and can cause adverse outcomes.

60 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jul 2013
TL;DR: Patients with cardiac sarcoidosis undergoing heart transplantation have acceptable long-term outcomes without evidence of recurrence of sarcoideosis in the allograft when maintained on low-dose corticosteroids.
Abstract: Background Cardiac sarcoidosis with end-stage heart failure has a poor prognosis without transplantation The rates of sarcoid recurrence and rejection are not well established after heart transplantation Methods A total of 19 heart transplant recipients with sarcoid of the explanted heart were compared with a contemporaneous control group of 1,050 heart transplant recipients without cardiac sarcoidosis Assessed outcomes included 1st-year freedom from any treated rejection, 5-year actuarial survival, 5-year freedom from cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), 5-year freedom from nonfatal major adverse cardiac events (NF-MACE), and recurrence of sarcoid in the allograft or other organs Patients with sarcoidosis were maintained on low-dose corticosteroids after transplantation Results There were no significant differences between the sarcoid and control groups in 1st-year freedom from any treated rejection (79% and 90%), 5-year posttransplantation survival (79% and 83%), 5-year freedom from CAV (68% and 78%), and 5-year freedom from NF-MACE (90% and 88%) Causes of death (n = 5) in the sarcoid group were coccidioidomycosis, pneumonia, rejection, hemorrhage, and CAV No patient had recurrence of sarcoidosis in the cardiac allograft Three of 19 patients (16%) experienced recurrence of extracardiac sarcoid, with no mortality Conclusions Patients with cardiac sarcoidosis undergoing heart transplantation have acceptable long-term outcomes without evidence of recurrence of sarcoidosis in the allograft when maintained on low-dose corticosteroids Progression of extracardiac sarcoid was uncommon, possibly related to immunosuppression In patients with cardiac sarcoidosis, heart transplantation is a viable treatment modality

48 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In sensitized heart transplant candidates, virtual cross match may shorten waiting time to heart transplantation without increasing subsequent occurrence of cellular rejection, antibody mediated rejection, and mortality after heart transplants.

30 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 2011
TL;DR: Patients who are aged 70 years and older can undergo heart transplantation with similar morbidity and mortality when compared with younger recipients, and should not be excluded from transplant consideration based solely on an age criterion.
Abstract: Objective Advanced age has been viewed as a contraindication to orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). We analyzed the outcome of OHT in patients who were aged 70 years or older and compared the results with those in younger patients during a two-decade period. Methods A total of 519 patients underwent first-time single-organ OHT at our institution from 1988 to 2009. Patients were divided into three groups by age: ≥ 70-years old (group 1, n = 37), 60 to 69-years old (group 2, n = 206), and ≤60-years old (group 3, n = 276). Primary endpoints were 30-days, and 1-, 5-, and 10-years survival. Secondary outcomes included re-operation for bleeding, postoperative need for dialysis, and length of postoperative intubation. Results There was no significant difference in survival between the greater than or equal to 70-year-old group and the two younger age groups for the first 10 years after OHT. Survival rates at 30 days, and 1-, 5-, and 10-years, and median survival in group 1 recipients were 100%, 94.6%, 83.2%, 51.7%, and 10.9 years (CI 7.1–11.0), respectively; in group 2 those numbers were 97.6%, 92.7%, 73.8%, 47.7%, and 9.1 years (CI 6.7–10.9), respectively; and in group 3 those numbers were 96.4%, 92.0%, 74.7%, 57.1%, and 12.2 years (CI 10.7–15.4; P = NS), respectively. There was no significant difference in secondary outcomes of re-operation for bleeding, postoperative need for dialysis, and prolonged intubation among the three age groups. Conclusions Patients who are aged 70 years and older can undergo heart transplantation with similar morbidity and mortality when compared with younger recipients. Advanced heart failure patients who are aged 70 years and older should not be excluded from transplant consideration based solely on an age criterion. Stringent patient selection, however, is necessary.

29 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this large, community-based sample, increased body-mass index was associated with an increased risk of heart failure and strategies to promote optimal body weight may reduce the population burden ofheart failure.

1,388 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The ISHLT Infectious Diseases, Pediatric and Heart Failure and Transplantation Councils Councils, and on behalf of the International Society for Heart Lung Trans transplantation (ISHLT) Infectious diseases, pediatric and heart failure and transplantation councilss are represented.
Abstract: Mandeep R. Mehra, MD (Chair), Charles E. Canter, MD, Margaret M. Hannan, MD, Marc J. Semigran, MD, Patricia A. Uber, PharmD, David A. Baran, MD, Lara Danziger-Isakov, MD, MPH, James K. Kirklin, MD, Richard Kirk, MD, Sudhir S. Kushwaha, MD, Lars H. Lund, MD, PhD, Luciano Potena, MD, PhD, Heather J. Ross, MD, David O. Taylor, MD, Erik A.M. Verschuuren, MD, PhD, Andreas Zuckermann, MD and on behalf of the International Society for Heart Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) Infectious Diseases, Pediatric and Heart Failure and Transplantation Councils

1,009 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Oct 1987-Chest

687 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Improved definitions of TCMR and ABMR in pancreas transplants with specification of vascular lesions and prospects for defining a vascularized composite allograft rejection classification are included.

522 citations

01 Sep 1999
TL;DR: Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search: Transmission systems for measured values, control or similar signals.
Abstract: References Informative references Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search: Transmission systems for measured values, control or similar signals G08C Speech analysis or synthesis G10L Coding, decoding or code conversion H03M Broadcast communication H04H Multiplex communication H04J Secret communication H04K Transmission of digital information H04L Telephonic communication H04M Pictorial communication H04N Wireless communication networks H04W

283 citations