A New Biomarker for the Non-invasive Diagnosis of Rejection After Heart Transplantation
A New Biomarker for the Non-invasive Diagnosis of Rejection After Heart Transplantation
This study is a prospective, observational multi-center cohort study. The study will consist of patients undergoing heart transplantation. The main purpose is to test a new biomarker for rejection against the gold-standard, the endomyocardial biopsy (EMB). 80 patients will be included, both children and adults.
The primary objective is a comparison of an the established, invasive diagnostic test, the endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) against a new, non-invasive test. The new test is the measurement of donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) circulating in the blood stream of the recipient, quantified by droplet digital PCR (polymerase-chain reaction) after targeted multiplex preamplification. Sensitivity is calculated with EMB as the gold standard. The patients will be followed during one year post-transplantation with simultaneous blood samples and EMB. The patients will further be followed clinically for 5 years. A suitable cut-off for the ratio of dd-cfDNA will be calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.
Secondary objectives are description of patient outcomes with respect to organ function, quality of life and adverse events.
Secondary objectives are the calculation of the costs related to the transplantation process as well as to the follow-up with EMB. A simulation will be done with respect to possible savings achieved if the new biomarker could be implemented.
The study consists of two cohorts: all adult recipients of heart transplantation at Sahlgrenska University Hospital (one of two center conducting heart transplantation in Sweden): regional study. The other cohort consists of all children undergoing heart transplantation in Sweden:national study. Patients will undergo transplantation at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg as well as at Skåne University Hospital in Lund. Follow-up with blood samples and EMB of these patients will be in Gothenburg, Lund and at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Follow-up outside Sweden
Gothenburg, 41685, Sweden