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10th Anniversary of JCDD—Modern Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies in...
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10th Anniversary of JCDD—Modern Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies in Advanced Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation

A special issue of Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease (ISSN 2308-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Cardiovascular Clinical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 7091

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Stavros Dimopoulos

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Guest Editor
1. Clinical Ergospirometry, Exercise and Rehabilitation Laboratory, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 106 75 Athens, Greece
2. Cardiac Surgery ICU, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, 176 74 Athens, Greece
Interests: exercise training; rehabilitation; cardiopulmonary exercise testing; critical illness; heart failure; pulmonary hypertension; cardiac surgery; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alexandros Briasoulis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Alexandra Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece
Interests: advanced heart failure; transplantation; cardio-oncology; pulmonary hypertension
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Paulino A. Alvarez

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Guest Editor
Section of Heart Failure & Transplantation, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
Interests: advanced heart failure; transplantation; pulmonary hypertension; left ventricle assist device

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of the Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease entitled 10th Anniversary of JCDD—Modern Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies in Advanced Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation focuses on the recent advances in the field of Advanced Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation. During the last decades there have been an increasing number of patients with heart failure due to increased coronary heart disease-main cause of heart failure, but also in advances in diagnosis with the modern genetic, biochemical, echocardiographic and haemodynamic assessment. New diagnostic methods have contributed to the early diagnosis and risk stratification of heart failure with emphasis in advanced heart failure prognostic tools. Great interest has been emerging from the diagnostic challenges for Heart Failure with preserved ejection fraction and exercise haemodynamics during Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing seems to play a significant role. On the other hand despite limited progress has been noted on Heart Failure medical therapy, there is growing evidence of the value of the short (ECMO, IMPELLA, TandemHeart) and long term mechanical assist devices (LVAD/BiVADs) as a bridge to heart transplantation, destination therapy, recovery or even organ donors. The necessity of increasing the organ donors has oriented clinicians towards donors after circulatory death (DCD) harvesting that has been increasing significantly during the last decade offering an alternative to the limited number of donors after brain death (DBD).

We are pleased to invite authors to submit original research articles, recommendation articles, and reviews covering all aspects of Advanced Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation, from diagnosis to clinical management and treatment.

In order to evaluate and organize the content of the Special Issue, please let us know the preliminary title of your paper, the type of paper that you plan to submit (research original article, review or case report) and any other additional information that would be useful. All manuscripts of original research that fit the scope of this Special Issue are welcome. For reviews, a direct co-operation between the authors and the Guest Editors would be useful to avoid thematic overlaps.

Participation in this Special Issue through the submission of a manuscript could be an excellent opportunity for primary researchers to enrich their CV, for doctoral or post-doctoral trainees to gain experience in writing reviews and for institutions to present their high quality original research in a high-quality journal.

Dr. Stavros Dimopoulos
Dr. Alexandros Briasoulis
Dr. Paulino A. Alvarez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • heart failure
  • heart transplantation
  • ECMO
  • impella
  • tandemHeart
  • cardiogenic shock
  • cardiopulmonary exercise testing
  • exercise training
  • organ donation
  • echocardiography
  • haemodynamics
  • right ventricle dysfunction
  • IABP

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 1014 KB  
Article
Renal Response to Levosimendan in Advanced Chronic Heart Failure Patients Listed for Heart Transplantation Predicts Early Postoperative Renal Function Course
by Gregor Zemljic, Gregor Poglajen, Sabina Frljak, Andraz Cerar, Renata Okrajsek, Miran Sebestjen, Ivan Knezevic and Bojan Vrtovec
J. Cardiovasc. Dev. Dis. 2025, 12(9), 357; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcdd12090357 - 16 Sep 2025
Abstract
Background: Beyond its established inotropic effects, levosimendan has been reported to enhance renal function in patients with chronic heart failure. In this study, we investigated whether changes in renal function following levosimendan administration in patients listed for heart transplantation were associated with early [...] Read more.
Background: Beyond its established inotropic effects, levosimendan has been reported to enhance renal function in patients with chronic heart failure. In this study, we investigated whether changes in renal function following levosimendan administration in patients listed for heart transplantation were associated with early post-transplant renal outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 99 patients with advanced heart failure and renal insufficiency (eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73 m2) who were listed for heart transplantation and received levosimendan therapy within 1 to 6 months prior to transplantation. Renal function was assessed immediately before and 24 h after levosimendan administration. A favorable renal response was defined as any increase in eGFR at 24 h. Post-transplant renal function was evaluated on postoperative days 1 and 7 using standard renal function parameters. Results: Favorable renal response to levosimendan prior to heart transplantation was present in 73 of 99 patients (74%, Group A), and 26 patients (26%) displayed no increase in eGFR (Group B). In the first week after heart transplantation, we found a significant improvement in renal function in Group A (ΔeGFR: +14 ± 3 mL/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.001), and worsening of renal function in Group B (ΔeGFR: −4 ± 3 mL/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.01). Favorable response to levosimendan prior to heart transplantation was an independent correlate of improved renal function after heart transplantation (p = 0.01). Conclusion: In patients awaiting heart transplantation, improvement in renal function after levosimendan therapy was associated with better early post-transplant renal outcomes. Levosimendan response may thus help identify reversible renal dysfunction and serve as a simple tool for transplant evaluation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of JCDD—Modern Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies in Advanced Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation)
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9 pages, 243 KB  
Article
Comparative Study on Cardiac Findings in Patients with Transthyretin Amyloidosis Before and After Treatment with a Transthyretin Silencer
by Priya Arivalagan and Diego Hernan Delgado
J. Cardiovasc. Dev. Dis. 2025, 12(9), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcdd12090342 - 5 Sep 2025
Viewed by 302
Abstract
Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) is a rare disease caused by misfolded proteins, amyloids, that are deposited in various organs and tissues, typically the heart and/or nerves, causing the development of cardiomyopathy (CM) and polyneuropathy (PN). Although this may be an incurable disease, there are [...] Read more.
Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) is a rare disease caused by misfolded proteins, amyloids, that are deposited in various organs and tissues, typically the heart and/or nerves, causing the development of cardiomyopathy (CM) and polyneuropathy (PN). Although this may be an incurable disease, there are various treatments that are currently available for patients with ATTR, including transthyretin (TTR) silencers such as inotersen and patisiran. The silencers help slow down the progression of disease and improve the quality of life of patients with ATTR by alleviating the cardiac and neurological symptoms that patients present. The purpose of this study was to compare the cardiac findings observed in the 99Tc-PYP scintigraphy (PYP scan) parameters of patients with a mixed phenotype before and after treatment with inotersen or patisiran. This study included ten patients from the amyloidosis clinic at the University Health Network. All of the patients (average age: 63.80 ± 11.70; 60.0% males, 40.0% females) received inotersen or patisiran as their treatment. These patients underwent a PYP scan before and after treatment to observe any improvements in terms of their CM post-treatment. Nine (90.0%) patients showed an improvement with their CM, as they showed a decrease in their heart-to-contralateral lung (H/CL) ratio and/or pyrophosphate (PYP) grade based on their results from the PYP scan post-treatment with a TTR silencer. Only one patient (10.0%) had worsening results, as their H/CL ratio and PYP grade increased post-treatment in comparison to the PYP scan results pre-treatment. Patients with ATTR who have a mixed phenotype should undergo a PYP scan before and after treatment with a TTR silencer. By undergoing these scans, the effectiveness of this treatment could be determined by observing any improvements in the signs of CM. A decrease in the H/CL ratio and/or the PYP grade would indicate that the TTR silencer has been effective in alleviating the signs and symptoms of CM, and that the patients should continue with their treatment plan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of JCDD—Modern Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies in Advanced Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation)

Review

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22 pages, 1498 KB  
Review
Patient Phenotypes Undergoing Tricuspid Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair: Finding the Optimal Candidate
by Kyriakos Dimitriadis, Nikolaos Pyrpyris, Eirini Beneki, Panagiotis Theofilis, Konstantinos Aznaouridis, Aggelos Papanikolaou, Alexios Antonopoulos, Christina Chrysohoou, Konstantina Aggeli and Konstantinos Tsioufis
J. Cardiovasc. Dev. Dis. 2025, 12(8), 293; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcdd12080293 - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 541
Abstract
Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a well-recognized factor contributing to adverse outcomes and mortality. Recent developments in transcatheter valve repair techniques, with the emergence of tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) devices, have altered the treatment algorithm of TR and now offer a safe and [...] Read more.
Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a well-recognized factor contributing to adverse outcomes and mortality. Recent developments in transcatheter valve repair techniques, with the emergence of tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) devices, have altered the treatment algorithm of TR and now offer a safe and feasible alternative for the effective management of the disease and an improvement in patient symptoms. Evidence from large studies and registries showcases the benefit of tricuspid interventions in terms of heart failure hospitalization and quality of life; however, most studies do not report a significant benefit in terms of hard outcomes. Even though longer-term follow-up may be needed to identify such differences, it is important to also identify distinct patient phenotypes that would benefit the most from such interventions, moving from pure anatomical criteria to an overall assessment of the patient’s clinical status. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide updates on potential moderators of the effect of tricuspid TEER, focusing on novel anatomical criteria, right cardiac function, and renal physiology, in order to guide patient selection and provide an insightful discussion on the optimal patient phenotype for future trial design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of JCDD—Modern Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies in Advanced Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation)
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20 pages, 1326 KB  
Review
Advanced Heart Failure: Therapeutic Options and Challenges in the Evolving Field of Left Ventricular Assist Devices
by Michael Antonopoulos, Michael J. Bonios, Stavros Dimopoulos, Evangelos Leontiadis, Aggeliki Gouziouta, Nektarios Kogerakis, Antigone Koliopoulou, Dimitris Elaiopoulos, Ioannis Vlahodimitris, Maria Chronaki, Themistocles Chamogeorgakis, Stavros G. Drakos and Stamatis Adamopoulos
J. Cardiovasc. Dev. Dis. 2024, 11(2), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcdd11020061 - 16 Feb 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5204
Abstract
Heart Failure is a chronic and progressively deteriorating syndrome that has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. Improved outcomes have been achieved with novel drugs and devices. However, the number of patients refractory to conventional medical therapy is growing. These advanced heart failure patients suffer [...] Read more.
Heart Failure is a chronic and progressively deteriorating syndrome that has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. Improved outcomes have been achieved with novel drugs and devices. However, the number of patients refractory to conventional medical therapy is growing. These advanced heart failure patients suffer from severe symptoms and frequent hospitalizations and have a dismal prognosis, with a significant socioeconomic burden in health care systems. Patients in this group may be eligible for advanced heart failure therapies, including heart transplantation and chronic mechanical circulatory support with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Heart transplantation remains the treatment of choice for eligible candidates, but the number of transplants worldwide has reached a plateau and is limited by the shortage of donor organs and prolonged wait times. Therefore, LVADs have emerged as an effective and durable form of therapy, and they are currently being used as a bridge to heart transplant, destination lifetime therapy, and cardiac recovery in selected patients. Although this field is evolving rapidly, LVADs are not free of complications, making appropriate patient selection and management by experienced centers imperative for successful therapy. Here, we review current LVAD technology, indications for durable MCS therapy, and strategies for timely referral to advanced heart failure centers before irreversible end-organ abnormalities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of JCDD—Modern Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies in Advanced Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation)
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