Body Mass Index as a Patient Selection Criterion for Kidney Transplant

There is currently no consensus on the ideal body mass index (BMI) for kidney transplantation, yet an elevated BMI can limit access to transplantation. This study explored the attitudes of kidney transplant professionals regarding BMI as a selection criterion for kidney transplantation. Brief, in-person interviews were conducted at the 2016 American Transplant Congress. Participants were queried on their views regarding kidney transplant eligibility for patients with classes 1, 2, and 3 obesity, as well as their transplant centers’ BMI-related policies. Most (88%) of the 94 participants did not consider class 1 obesity (BMI 30 to < 35) a contraindication to kidney transplantation, with a greater number of participants reluctant to consider patients with class 2 (BMI 35 to < 40) or class 3 obesity (BMI ³ 40) for transplantation. Participants identified a mean maximum BMI 2.3 points higher than the mean maximum BMI reported in transplant center patient selection criteria policies. Overall, kidney transplant professionals viewed BMI as a useful patient selection criterion when considered within the larger context of the patient’s clinical picture. Future research should assess outcomes for transplant recipients with varying obesity levels.

P126: Development of inclusion and exclusion criteria for ECPR in a regional hospital

Introduction: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), a method of cardiopulmonary bypass, is increasingly being used to supplement traditional CPR to improve outcomes for cardiac arrest (CA). CA and particularly out of hospital CA (OHCA) have poor outcomes. Prior to development of a 3 phase ECPR program in a Canadian regional hospital, we wished to identify and optimize a practical selection process (inclusion and exclusion criteria) for patients who may benefit from ECPR. Methods: Using a locally modified Delphi technique, we followed a literature review to construct a proposed set of evidence based criteria with a questionnaire, where inclusion and exclusion criteria were scored by a selected group of 13 experts. Following 3 rounds, and additional review by an international expert in the field of ECPR, consensus was achieved for patient selection criterion. Results: First round responses achieved 87.5% agreement for selection of exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria had agreement 62.5%. Responses to the second round for selection of inclusion criteria were unanimous at 100% with the exception of age parameters (<65 years vs. <70 years). The third and final set of criteria achieved 100% consensus though subsequent expert review refined a single exclusion criteria (asystole). Agreed inclusion criteria were: witnessed CA, age <70, refractory arrest, no flow time <10min, total downtime <60min, and a cardiac or select non-cardiac etiology (PE, drug OD, poisoning, hypothermia). Exclusion criteria were : unwitnessed arrest, asystole, certain etiologies (uncontrolled bleeding, irreversible brain damage, trauma), and comorbidities (severe disability limiting ADLs, standing DNR, palliation). Simplified criteria for EMS transport included witnessed OHCA, age, and no flow time. Conclusion: Selection criteria of candidates for ECPR are important components for any program. Expert consensus review of current evidence is an effective method for development of ECPR selection criteria.

Abstract 14922: Prognostic Value of Baseline BNP and NT-ProBNP and its Interaction With Spironolactone in Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction in the TOPCAT Trial

Background: Plasma natriuretic peptides (NP) are helpful in the diagnosis of heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and predict adverse outcomes. Levels of NP beyond a certain cut-off level are often used as inclusion criteria in clinical trials to ensure that the patients have HF, and to select patients at higher risk. Whether treatments have a differential effect on outcomes across the spectrum of NP levels is unclear. In the I-Preserve trial a benefit of irbesartan on all outcomes was only seen in HFpEF patients with low but not high NP levels. We hypothesized that in the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) trial, spironolactone might have a greater benefit in patients with lower NP levels. Methods and Results: BNP (n=468) or NT-proBNP (n=400) levels were available at baseline in 868 patients with HFpEF enrolled in the natriuretic peptide stratum (BNP ≥100 pg/mL or an NT- proBNP ≥360 pg/mL) of the TOPCAT trial. In a multi-variable Cox regression model, that included age, gender, region (Americas vs. Russia/Georgia), atrial fibrillation, diabetes, eGFR, BMI and heart rate, higher BNP or NT-proBNP as a continuous, standardized log-transformed variable or grouped by terciles (see Figure for BNP & NT-proBNP tercile values) was independently associated with an increased risk of the primary endpoint of cardiovascular mortality, aborted cardiac arrest, or hospitalization for heart failure (Figure-1). There was a significant interaction between the effect of spironolactone and baseline BNP or NT-proBNP terciles for the primary outcome (P=0.02, Figure-2), with greater benefit of the drug in the lower compared to higher NP terciles. Conclusions: The benefit of spironolactone in lower risk HFpEF patients may indicate effects of the drug on early, but not late higher-risk stage of the disease. These findings question the strategy of using elevated NP as a patient selection criterion in HFpEF trials.

Gamma Knife surgery for metastatic brain tumors

Object The authors compared results of Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for brain metastases obtained at 2 institutions in Japan. Methods They analyzed a consecutive series of 2390 patients with brain metastases who underwent GKS from 1998 through 2005 in 2 institutes (1181 patients in Chiba; 1209 in Mito). In the 2 facilities, 1 neurosurgeon each was responsible for diagnosis, patient selection, GKS procedures, and follow-up (T.S. in Chiba, M.Y. in Mito). Even if tumor numbers exceeded 4, all visible lesions were irradiated with a total skull integral dose (TSID) of ≤ 10–12 J. No prophylactic whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) was applied. If new distant lesions were detected, salvage GKS was appropriately performed. Results The distributions of patient and treatment factors did not differ between institutes. The most common primary tumors were lung cancer (1572 patients), followed by gastrointestinal tract (316), breast (211), kidney (113), and other cancers (159). The median survival periods were 7.7 months in Chiba and 7.0 months in Mito (p = 0.0635). The significant poor prognostic factors for overall survival were active extracranial disease status, male sex, and low initial Karnofsky Performance Scale score on multivariate analysis (all p < 0.0001). The neurological survival rates at 1 year were 86.6% in Chiba and 84.2% in Mito (p = 0.3310). Conclusions This 2-institute study demonstrated no significant institutional differences in any of the treatment result items. Gamma Knife surgery for brain metastases without prophylactic WBRT prevents neurological death and allows a patient to maintain good brain condition. However, there is 1 important patient selection criterion: regardless of how many tumors there are, all lesions can be irradiated with a TSID of ≤12 J.