
Evaluating threshold for donor fraction cell-free DNA using clinically available assay for rejection in pediatric and adult heart transplantation.
BACKGROUND: The aims of the study were to assess the performance of a clinically available cell-free DNA (cfDNA) assay in a large cohort of pediatric and adult heart transplant recipients and to evaluate performance at specific cut points in detection of rejection. METHODS: Observational, non-interventional, prospective study enrolled pediatric and adult heart transplant recipients from seven centers. Biopsy-associated plasma samples were used for cfDNA measurements. Pre-determined cut points were tested for analytic performance. RESULTS: A total of 487 samples from 160 subjects were used for the analysis. There were significant differences for df-cfDNA values between rejection [0.21% (IQR 0.12-0.69)] and healthy samples [0.05% (IQR 0.01-0.14), p < .0001]. The pediatric rejection group had a median df-cfDNA value of 0.93% (IQR 0.28-2.84) compared to 0.09% (IQR 0.04-0.23) for healthy samples, p = .005. Overall negative predictive value was 0.94 while it was 0.99 for pediatric patients. Cut points of 0.13% and 0.15% were tested for various types of rejection profiles and were appropriate to rule out rejection. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that pediatric patients with rejection show higher levels of circulating df-cfDNA compared to adults and supports the specific cut points for clinical use in pediatric and adult patients with overall acceptable performance.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Tissue Donors
- Surgery
- Prospective Studies
- Humans
- Heart Transplantation
- Graft Rejection
- Child
- Cell-Free Nucleic Acids
- Biomarkers
- Adult
Citation

Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Tissue Donors
- Surgery
- Prospective Studies
- Humans
- Heart Transplantation
- Graft Rejection
- Child
- Cell-Free Nucleic Acids
- Biomarkers
- Adult