First JHLT Open Editor-Invited Review Articles Now Online
The JHLT Open editorial team is excited to announce that the first editor-invited review articles by expert authors are now available online.
The first review paper, titled “Contemporary treatment of right ventricular failure” by Bibhuti B. Das, MD, and Shashi Raj, MD, FAAP, FACC, from the Narayana Hrudayalaya Health City Bangalore, India, discusses the mechanisms and treatments of contemporary treatment of right ventricular failure.
Right ventricular failure (RVF) is a clinical syndrome resulting from structural and functional changes in the right heart, leading to inadequate blood flow to the pulmonary circulation and elevated venous pressures. Key factors contributing to right ventricular dysfunction include afterload, preload, and contractility issues. The pathophysiology of RVF involves complex interactions such as metabolic reprogramming, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. Current treatments are limited, with diuretics being the primary option for managing congestion. Novel pharmacological interventions targeting metabolism, calcium homeostasis, oxidative stress, extracellular matrix remodeling, endothelial function, and inflammation are essential for effectively addressing RVF. This review explores the mechanisms and treatments of RVF, highlighting both medical and device-based approaches.
The second review paper, titled “Lung transplantation for pulmonary chronic graft-versus-host disease: a missed opportunity?” by Andrea Zajacova, MD, with senior author Saskia Bos, MD, PhD, from the University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium, discusses the topic of lung transplantation for pulmonary chronic graft-versus-host disease, questioning whether this is a missed opportunity for our lung transplant community.
Chronic graft-versus-host disease is a common complication after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with pulmonary chronic graft-versus-host disease (PcGvHD) particularly associated with a dismal prognosis. Lung transplantation (LuTx) is a final therapeutic option for well-selected patients affected by this condition. Nevertheless, only a small group of PcGvHD patients are referred for LuTx. This review addresses common concerns regarding referral and listing of PcGvHD patients for LuTx (such as risk of relapse of haematological malignancy, infectious complications and rejection) and survival outcomes of this specific cohort of patients. Importantly, LuTx for PcGvHD has comparable outcomes to other indications. The establishment of specific LuTx indication criteria for PcGvHD patients may improve referral rates and timing of both referral and listing of suitable candidates.
More editor-invited review articles are currently in development. For more information about JHLT Open, visit jhltopen.org.