A new blood test can detect early signs of heart transplant rejection by analyzing small DNA fragments from the donor heart in the recipient’s blood.

A revolutionary blood test has the potential to transform how heart transplant recipients are monitored for rejection. This new method, developed by pediatric cardiologist Dr Jens Böhmer, identifies the early signs of rejection by analyzing small DNA fragments from the donor’s heart found in the recipient’s blood.
Currently, heart transplant recipients undergo regular biopsies to monitor signs of rejection. The biopsy is an invasive and uncomfortable procedure, carries risk and is expensive. In the first year alone, the patient undergoes 10 to 12 biopsies.
This method offers a much simpler alternative: a blood test that can detect rejection without biopsies.

How the Blood Test Works

Blood samples from 94 heart transplant recipients (including both adults and children) to detect tiny DNA fragments from transplanted hearts circulating in the patient’s blood. The circulating donor DNA (cd-DNA) fragments rise in number when rejection occurs, making them an early indicator.

The method used to detect the cd-DNA is called droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), a cutting-edge technique that allows for precise measurement of even the smallest amount of DNA. The results are clear, a simple blood test can rule out rejection, providing a more comfortable and efficient way to monitor transplant health.

The blood test method offers many benefits over the traditional biopsy method:

• Minimally-invasive: The blood test involves only a routine blood draw, eliminating the need for painful and risky tissue biopsies.
• Remote Monitoring: Patients no longer need to travel to transplant centers for regular biopsies. Blood samples can be taken at local healthcare centers and sent by mail for analysis, making it easier for patients, especially those living in remote areas.
• Cost-effective: Blood tests are cheaper than biopsies, which could lead to significant savings for healthcare systems globally.
• Faster Results: The test provides quicker results, enabling doctors to make faster decisions about treatment and intervention.

The simplicity of this new blood test can be used in healthcare settings around the world, including regions where access to specialized transplant centers is limited. The ability to monitor patients without requiring frequent travel could dramatically improve the quality of care for transplant patients in remote areas.

In addition to heart transplants, the researchers believe that this technique could eventually be adapted to monitor other types of organ transplants, opening up the potential for broader applications in the field of transplant medicine.

1. Blood test reveals hearts at risk of rejection- (https:www.gu.se/en/news/blood-test-reveals-hearts-at-risk-of-rejection)

Source-Medindia