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Successful Long‐Term Outcome of the First Combined Heart and Kidney Transplant in a Patient with Systemic AL Amyloidosis
Author(s) -
Audard V.,
Matig M.,
Weiss L.,
Remy P.,
Pardon A.,
Haioun C.,
Belhadj K.,
Salomon L.,
Hillon M. L.,
Sahali D.,
Vermes E.,
Lang P.,
Grimbert P.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2008.02469.x
Subject(s) - medicine , transplantation , al amyloidosis , context (archaeology) , amyloidosis , kidney , kidney transplantation , heart failure , heart transplantation , primary systemic amyloidosis , surgery , prednisone , plasma cell dyscrasia , disease , systemic disease , immunology , immunoglobulin light chain , antibody , paleontology , biology
Simultaneous cardiac and renal involvement is associated with a particularly poor prognosis in patients with AL amyloidosis (AL‐A). We report the first case of a successful long‐term outcome of combined heart and kidney transplantation not followed by autologous stem cell transplantation in a patient with systemic AL‐A. The recipient was a 46‐year‐old man with end‐stage renal failure associated with serious cardiac involvement in the context of AL‐A. Before transplantation, two courses of oral melphalan plus prednisone induced partial hematologic remission, as shown by the decrease in circulating free light chain with no improvement of renal or heart function. The patient underwent combined heart and kidney transplantation as a rescue treatment. During the follow‐up period (36 months), plasma cell dyscrasia remains in complete remission, with normal free lambda light chain levels and no recurrence of amyloid deposition on heart and kidney grafts. This case report demonstrates that combined heart and kidney transplantation not systematically associated with stem cell transplantation may be considered an additional therapeutic option in AL‐A patients with severe organ dysfunction and partial hematologic remission.