Something evil this way comes: Proteomic profiling identifies CLEC4C expression as a novel biomarker of primary graft dysfunction after heart transplantation

For over 50 years, cardiac transplantation is the gold standard treatment for refractory end-stage heart failure. Survival after cardiac transplantation has improved over the past 2 decades, however, there remains a 5% to 10% risk of early mortality. For majority of these cases, the primary cause is primary graft dysfunction (PGD). Graft dysfunction is classified into PGD or secondary graft dysfunction where there is a discernible cause such as hyperacute rejection, pulmonary hypertension, or known surgical complications. The diagnosis of PGD is to be made within 24 hours after completion of the cardiac transplant surgery. It is further categorized into PGD-left ventricle (PGD-LV) or PGD-right ventricle (PGD-RV). A severity scale for PGD-LV includes mild, moderate, or severe grades based on specific criteria (LVEF by echocardiography, hemodynamics, and need and extent of inotropic/mechanical support). Similarly, PGD-RV severity is based on hemodynamics and right ventricular mechanical support. 1 Kobashigawa J Zuckermann A Macdonald P et al. Report from a consensus conference on primary graft dysfunction after cardiac transplantation. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2014; 33: 327-340 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (337) Google Scholar