Key result
First-in-human partial heart transplant in a neonate demonstrated adaptive growth and excellent hemodynamic function of the transplanted valves at 1 year of age.
Why the study?
Neonates with irreparable heart valve dysfunction lack growing valve implants, committing them to recurrent implant exchanges until an adult-sized valve fits.
Does partial heart transplant improve valve growth and hemodynamic function in neonates with irreparable truncal valve dysfunction?
Case Report (n=1)
No
Does partial heart transplant improve valve growth and hemodynamic function in neonates with irreparable truncal valve dysfunction?
The first-in-human partial heart transplant in a neonate demonstrated adaptive valve growth and excellent hemodynamic function at 1 year, offering a potential solution for irreparable heart valve dysfunction.
May reduce repeated surgeries in neonates; leaves open durability, safety, and scalability in larger trials.
Importance: The treatment of neonates with irreparable heart valve dysfunction remains an unsolved problem because there are no heart valve implants that grow. Therefore, neonates with heart valve implants are committed to recurrent implant exchanges until an adult-sized valve can fit. Objective: To deliver the first heart valve implant that grows. Design, Setting, and Participants: Case report from a pediatric referral center, with follow-up for more than 1 year. Participants were a recipient neonate with persistent truncus arteriosus and irreparable truncal valve dysfunction and a donor neonate with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Intervention: First-in-human transplant of the part of the heart containing the aortic and pulmonary valves. Main Outcomes and Measures: Transplanted valve growth and hemodynamic function. Results: Echocardiography demonstrated adaptive growth and excellent hemodynamic function of the partial heart transplant valves. Conclusions and Relevance: In this child, partial heart transplant delivered growing heart valve implants with a good outcome at age 1 year. Partial heart transplants may improve the treatment of neonates with irreparable heart valve dysfunction.
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Turek et al. (2024) conducted a case report in Persistent truncus arteriosus and irreparable truncal valve dysfunction (n=1). Partial heart transplant (transplant of the part of the heart containing the aortic and pulmonary valves) was evaluated on Transplanted valve growth and hemodynamic function. First-in-human partial heart transplant in a neonate demonstrated adaptive growth and excellent hemodynamic function of the transplanted valves at 1 year of age.
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