Real World Use of Extracorporeal Photopheresis After Heart Transplantation - Clinical Outcomes from a Seven Centre European Study

Abstract

<h3>Purpose</h3> Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is recommended by different apheresis and transplant societies based on study results from 1998 and 2006 as an adjunctive therapy in prevention and treatment of acute cellular rejection (ACR) after heart transplantation (HTx). At present, however, it is also used to treat antibody mediated rejection (AMR) with and without (+/-) donor specific antibodies (DSA). The aim of this study was to describe the real-world use of ECP across European heart transplant centres and assess its impact on clinical outcomes in the modern era of heart transplantation. <h3>Methods</h3> Seven transplant centres located in five European countries participated in this retrospective, explorative, single-arm chart review study of over 90 patients. All included patients received ECP after heart transplant in 2015 or later with a follow-up period of up to two years after the last ECP treatment. Data have been extracted from the medical charts covering patient characteristics, reasons for ECP treatment, ECP treatment schedule and duration, concomitant treatments, clinical outcomes (e.g. graft dysfunctions, rejections, survival, immune system, kidney function) as well as treatment related complications and safety. <h3>Endpoints</h3> The findings of the full study analysis from the largest known multi-centre study on ECP after HTx, will be presented for ECP treatment overall, and for the three sub-groups ACR, AMR (+/- DSA), and prevention of rejection. Endpoints that will be reported will include graft and overall survival, incidence of rejections, infections and complications, changes in rejection grading, improvements in graft function, and ECP related safety data.