TY - JOUR
T1 - Hypogammaglobulinemia following cardiac transplantation
T2 - A link between rejection and infection
AU - Yamani, Mohamad H.
AU - Avery, Robin K.
AU - Mawhorter, Steven D.
AU - Young, James B.
AU - Ratliff, Norman B.
AU - Hobbs, Robert E.
AU - McCarthy, Patrick M.
AU - Smedira, Nicholas G.
AU - Goormastic, Marlene
AU - Pelegrin, David
AU - Starling, Randall C.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Background: Hypogammaglobulinemia (HGG) has been reported after solid organ transplantation and is noted to confer an increased risk of opportunistic infections. Objectives: In this study, we sought to assess the relationship between severe HGG to infection and acute cellular rejection following heart transplantation. Methods: Between February 1997 and January 1999, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcome of 111 consecutive heart transplant recipients who had immunoglobulin G (IgG) level monitoring at 3 and 6 months post-transplant and when clinically indicated. Results: Eighty-one percent of patients were males, mean age 54 ± 13 years, and the mean follow-up period was 13.8 ± 5.7 months. Patients had normal IgG levels prior to transplant (mean 1137 ± 353 mg/dl). Ten percent (11 of 111) of patients developed severe HGG (IgG < 350 mg/dl) post-transplant. The average time to the lowest IgG level was 196 ± 125 days. Patients with severe HGG were at increased risk of opportunistic infections compared to patients with IgG > 350 mg/dl (55% [6 of 11] vs 5% [5 of 100], odds ratio = 22.8, p < 0.001). Compared to patients with no rejection, patients who experienced three or more episodes of rejection had lower mean IgG (580 ± 309 vs 751 ± 325, p = 0.05), and increased incidence of severe HGG (33% [7 of 21] vs 2.8% [1 of 35], p = 0.001). The incidence of rejection episodes per patient at 1 year was higher in patients with severe HGG compared to patients with IgG >350 (2.82 ± 1.66 vs 1.36 ± 1.45 episodes/patient, p = 0.02). The use of parenteral steroid pulse therapy was associated with an increased risk of severe HGG (odds ratio = 15.28, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Severe HGG after cardiac transplantation may develop as a consequence of intensification of immunosuppressive therapy for rejection and hence, confers an increased risk of opportunistic infections. IgG level may be a useful marker for identifying patients at high risk.
AB - Background: Hypogammaglobulinemia (HGG) has been reported after solid organ transplantation and is noted to confer an increased risk of opportunistic infections. Objectives: In this study, we sought to assess the relationship between severe HGG to infection and acute cellular rejection following heart transplantation. Methods: Between February 1997 and January 1999, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcome of 111 consecutive heart transplant recipients who had immunoglobulin G (IgG) level monitoring at 3 and 6 months post-transplant and when clinically indicated. Results: Eighty-one percent of patients were males, mean age 54 ± 13 years, and the mean follow-up period was 13.8 ± 5.7 months. Patients had normal IgG levels prior to transplant (mean 1137 ± 353 mg/dl). Ten percent (11 of 111) of patients developed severe HGG (IgG < 350 mg/dl) post-transplant. The average time to the lowest IgG level was 196 ± 125 days. Patients with severe HGG were at increased risk of opportunistic infections compared to patients with IgG > 350 mg/dl (55% [6 of 11] vs 5% [5 of 100], odds ratio = 22.8, p < 0.001). Compared to patients with no rejection, patients who experienced three or more episodes of rejection had lower mean IgG (580 ± 309 vs 751 ± 325, p = 0.05), and increased incidence of severe HGG (33% [7 of 21] vs 2.8% [1 of 35], p = 0.001). The incidence of rejection episodes per patient at 1 year was higher in patients with severe HGG compared to patients with IgG >350 (2.82 ± 1.66 vs 1.36 ± 1.45 episodes/patient, p = 0.02). The use of parenteral steroid pulse therapy was associated with an increased risk of severe HGG (odds ratio = 15.28, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Severe HGG after cardiac transplantation may develop as a consequence of intensification of immunosuppressive therapy for rejection and hence, confers an increased risk of opportunistic infections. IgG level may be a useful marker for identifying patients at high risk.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035047884&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035047884&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S1053-2498(00)00331-4
DO - 10.1016/S1053-2498(00)00331-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 11295580
AN - SCOPUS:0035047884
SN - 1053-2498
VL - 20
SP - 425
EP - 430
JO - Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation
JF - Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation
IS - 4
ER -