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Abstract: Background: Since its introduction as an immunosuppressant in the late 1990s, sirolimus (SRL) has been used to prevent rejections after heart transplantation (HTx) in the United States. An analogue, everolimus (ERL) has been mainly used in Europe. We performed a retrospective longitudinal single-center study to evaluate efficacy and side effects of SRL and ERL. Patients and Methods: We analyzed 71 patients, 39 in the SRL and 32 in the ERL group. The following data were collected: Trough levels of SRL and ERL, biopsy-proven rejections, renal function, blood lipids, hematology, blood pressure, pulse rate, and side effects (via an anonymous questionnaire). Follow-up time was 6 months. No prisoners or organs from prisoners were used in the study. Results: Introduction of SRL or ERL into therapy took place 44 or 42 months (average) after HTx. SRL and ERL were equally effective in preventing rejection (8/39 versus 6/32). Hemoglobin levels decreased slightly in the SRL group (nonsignificant). Leucocytes and thrombocyte levels decreased in both groups (P < .05 only in the ERL group). Creatinine levels remained unchanged. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels increased significantly in the SRL group. High-density lipoprotein levels increased significantly in the ERL group. Vital signs remained stable in both groups. Side effects (mainly edema, gastrointestinal symptoms and infections) were considerable and prompted discontinuation in 39% of all patients in both groups. Infections were more frequent in SRL (18/39 versus 12/32, nonsignificant). Calcineurin therapy could be reduced by 25% in SRL and 45% in ERL. Conclusion: The impact of SRL and ERL on laboratory values and rejection rates, as well as on clinical parameters, is similar with a slight advantage to ERL regarding lipids and rate of infections (not significant). Both SRL and ERL allow an important reduction of calcineurin-therapy; however, both drugs have considerable side effects, which often require discontinuation of therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Patients with severe aortic stenosis at increased surgical risk continue to experience compromised long-term survival despite successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation. We used time-related pathways in a multistate analysis to identify predictors of adverse long-term outcome in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation., Methods and Results: In a cohort of 389 patients with a mean age of 82.4 ± 5.8 years and a STS score of 6.8 ± 5.3 undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation between 2007 and 2011, multistate analysis was used to estimate mortality and stroke taking into account intercurrent events including kidney injury and the composite of access site and bleeding complications (ABC). Transapical access emerged as a predictor of kidney injury (hazard ratio [HR], 2.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-4.47) and ABC (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.07-2.96), but had no impact on the risk of stroke or death. Body mass index ≤20 kg/m(2) increased the risk of stroke or death (HR, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.25-5.54). Age >80 years (HR, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.11-8.92), body mass index ≤20 kg/m(2) (HR, 4.11; 95% CI, 1.33-12.70), prior stroke (HR, 16.42; 95% CI, 3.63-74.21), and presence of atrial fibrillation at baseline (HR, 4.12; 95% CI, 1.87-9.97) increased the risk of stroke and death after an intercurrent event of ABC., Conclusions: A body mass index ≤20 kg/m(2) was identified as a primary predictor of stroke and death after transcatheter aortic valve implantation during long-term follow-up, whereas transapical access emerged as a predictor of kidney injury and ABC. Age >80 years, body mass index ≤20 kg/m(2), prior stroke, and presence of atrial fibrillation at baseline increased the risk of stroke and death after an intercurrent event of ABC.