The Effect of Everolimus Initiation and Calcineurin Inhibitor Elimination on Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy in De Novo Recipients: One-Year Results of a Scandinavian Randomized Trial

S. Arora, A. K. Andreassen, B. Andersson, F. Gustafsson, H. Eiskjaer, H. E. Botker, Göran Rådegran, E. Gude, D. Ioanes, D. Solbu, V. Sigurdardottir, G. Dellgren, I. Erikstad, O. G. Solberg, T. Ueland, P. Aukrust, L. Gullestad

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Early initiation of everolimus with calcineurin inhibitor therapy has been shown to reduce the progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) in de novo heart transplant recipients. The effect of de novo everolimus therapy and early total elimination of calcineurin inhibitor therapy has, however, not been investigated and is relevant given the morbidity and lack of efficacy of current protocols in preventing CAV. This 12-month multicenter Scandinavian trial randomized 115 de novo heart transplant recipients to everolimus with complete calcineurin inhibitor elimination 7-11 weeks after HTx or standard cyclosporine immunosuppression. Ninety-five (83%) patients had matched intravascular ultrasound examinations at baseline and 12 months. Mean (SD) recipient age was 49.9 +/- 13.1 years. The everolimus group (n=47) demonstrated significantly reduced CAV progression as compared to the calcineurin inhibitor group (n=48) (Maximal Intimal Thickness 0.03 +/- 0.06 and 0.08 +/- 0.12mm, Percent Atheroma Volume 1.3 +/- 2.3 and 4.2 +/- 5.0%, Total Atheroma Volume 1.1 +/- 19.2mm(3) and 13.8 +/- 28.0mm(3) [all p-values0.01]). Everolimus patients also had a significantly greater decline in levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 as compared to the calcineurin inhibitor group (p=0.02). These preliminary results suggest that an everolimus-based CNI-free can potentially be considered in suitable de novo HTx recipients.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1967-1975
JournalAmerican Journal of Transplantation
Volume15
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems

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