EFFECT OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION ON THE PREDICTIVE VALUE OF CD-40 LIGAND IN HEART TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus infection may be associated with the development of acute cellular rejection – the most fre- quent and serious complication after heart transplantation, limiting long-term survival of recipients. Biomarkers of inflammation and thrombosis, one of which is the product of platelet activation – a soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), also play an important role in the immunopathology of acute rejection. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of cardiovascular complications after heart transplantation under the combined effect of two factors – sCD40L and cytomegalovirus infection. We examined 64 heart recipients in the period of 12 years after heart transplantation. It was revealed that with the presence of elevated levels of sCD40L in combination with cytomegalovirus infection, risk of acute cellular rejection is higher. In recipients with low levels of sCD40L and without cytomegalovirus infection survival rate is significantly higher than in recipients with the presence of one or both of the studied risk factors.

Keywords

• heart transplantation
• soluble cd40 ligand
• cytomegalovirus infection
• cardiovascular complications.