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Digital PCR for absolute quantification of cell-free DNA introduces new aspects in the surveillance of patients after heart transplantation: clinical scenarios
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  • Jens Bohmer,
  • Håkan Wåhlander,
  • Kristjan Karason,
  • Jan Sunnegårdh,
  • Carina Wasslavik,
  • Marianne Jonsson,
  • Julia Asp,
  • Anne Ricksten,
  • Goran Dellgren
Jens Bohmer
Sahlgrenska Academy

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Håkan Wåhlander
Sahlgrenska University Hospital
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Kristjan Karason
Sahlgrenska University Hospital
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Jan Sunnegårdh
Sahlgrenska University Hospital
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Carina Wasslavik
Sahlgrenska University Hospital
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Marianne Jonsson
Sahlgrenska Academy
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Julia Asp
Institute of Biomedicine
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Anne Ricksten
University of Gothenburg Sahlgrenska Academy
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Goran Dellgren
Sahlgrenska Academy
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Abstract

Background: Heart transplantation (HTx) relies on an endomyocardial biopsy for rejection surveillance. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is released into the circulatory system from the cells of the recipient (recipient-derived rd-cfDNA) as well as from the graft (donor-derived dd-cfDNA) and is determined by the analysis of a blood test. There is growing evidence that the donor fraction (DF, the ratio of dd-cfDNA to all cfDNA) corresponds to the integrity of the graft. However, it is important that rd-cfDNA levels vary greatly in different, sometimes clinically silent circumstances, which in turn makes DF the sole measure of graft status vulnerable to bias. Methods: Using a digital PCR-based method that allowed us to quantify separate values of rd-cfDNA, dd-cfDNA, and DF, we investigated a prospective cohort of 52 patients during their first year after HTx. Results: We found median DF levels of approximately 0.1%, which is in accordance with the literature. We present patients with various clinical scenarios after HTx, including an uncomplicated clinical course, several infections (viral and bacterial), acute and chronic rejection, and false-negative and false-positive rejections. Conclusions: Quantification of circulating cfDNA reflects a live-view of cell turnaround in the recipient and graft. Measuring the DF alone may not be sufficient to fully understand the complex biology of cfDNA after HTx.