Guidelines for the care of heart transplant recipients

Costanzo et al.
Guidelines for Heart Transplant Care
923
Table 5
Match of Blood Products to Specific ABO-Incompatible Heart Transplant Scenario
Platelets (managed similarly
Blood group
to plasma)
Recipient’s Donor’s
Red blood cells
(plasma depleted)
Fresh frozen
plasma
Cryoprecipitate
2nd choice
O A O A A A O concentrate
O B O B B B O concentrate
O AB O AB AB, A or B AB A or B concentrate
A B A AB AB, or B a AB B concentrate
A AB A AB AB,AorB a AB A or B concentrate
B A B AB AB, or A a AB A concentrate
B AB B AB AB,AorB a AB A or B concentrate
a Second choice.
Recommendations for the Selection of Candidates for ABO
“Incompatible” Heart Transplant: 88,89
Class IIa:
1. The upper limit of age or isohemagglutinin titer for
ABO-incompatible pediatric HT remains unclear.
Level of Evidence: C.
2. ABO-incompatible HT can be safely performed in the
pediatric population in the presence of positive isohemagglutinin
titers against the donor organ.
Level of Evidence: C.
3. ABO-incompatible HT, especially in the presence of
donor-specific isohemagglutinins 1:4, should be performed
in an experienced center.
Level of Evidence: C.
Recommendation for the Intraoperative Care of ABO “Incompatible”
Heart Transplant Recipients: 88,89
Class IIa:
1. ABO-incompatible HT can be undertaken by performing
plasma exchange using the CPB circuit to remove donor
specific isohemagglutinins.
Level of Evidence: C.
2. Plasma exchange using the CPB circuit allows the safe
transplantation of ABO-incompatible organs without the
need of aggressive pre-operative immunosuppressive
therapies or splenectomy.
Level of Evidence: C.
Recommendations for the Monitoring of Isohemagglutinin
Levels in ABO “Incompatible” Heart Transplant
Recipients: 88,90
Class IIa:
1. Serial measurements of isohemagglutinin titers should
be done in the post-operative period. Decisions about
whether immunosuppressive therapy must be modified
should be based not only on the change in isohemagglutinin
titers but also on clinical or pathologic evidence of
rejection.
Level of Evidence: C.
Recommendations for the Administration of Blood Products
in ABO “Incompatible” Heart Transplant Recipients 88–90 :
(See Table 5)
Class IIa:
1. Whole blood products should never be administered to a
child who has received an ABO-incompatible HT, and
the families should be educated to communicate this fact
to other caregivers in the case of any future medical
emergency or surgery. Group O red blood cells and
group AB blood elements are safe for every blood group
combination.
Level of Evidence: C.
2. If red blood cells transfusions are given to any ABOincompatible
HT recipient, red blood cell units should be
matched based on the HT recipient’s ABO blood type.
Level of Evidence: C.
3. If platelets and/or plasma preparations are needed in
ABO-incompatible HT recipients, these blood products
should be matched based on the donor’s ABO blood
type.
Level of Evidence: C.
Recommendations for Immunosuppression in ABO “Incompatible”
Heart Transplant Recipients: 88,89,91
Class IIa:
1. Standard (triple) immunosuppression with a CNI, an
anti-proliferative agent, and CS can be used in children
undergoing ABO-incompatible HT without an increased
risk of rejection.
Level of Evidence: B.
2. Immunosuppression management beyond the peri-operative
period is similar to that of the ABO-compatible
pediatric HT population.
Level of Evidence: B.
Recommendation for Rejection Surveillance in ABO “Incompatible”
Heart Transplant Recipients: 88–90
Class IIa:
1. Rejection surveillance in ABO-incompatible HT recipients
is the same as that of the ABO-compatible HT population.