This month on JHLT The Podcast, JHLT Digital Media Editor Van-Khue Ton, MD, takes over hosting duties to present two unique papers from the November issue of The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. Listen now to hear study authors discuss their work, their studies, and next steps for their research.

First, we welcome first author Megan M. Collins, MD, about her team’s study from the University of Utah entitled “Attitudes & practices surrounding pregnancy post heart transplantation among pediatric providers.” Dr. Collins shares her journey from being an undergraduate economics major to her current career in pediatrics, including how strategy and game theory have helped her better understand her patients and thrive during her pediatric cardiology fellowship.

The study itself is exceptionally important as more pediatric heart transplant recipients reach adulthood and become interested in family planning. The study consisted of confidential and voluntary web surveys of pediatric heart transplant doctors, exploring their behaviors and policies around pregnancy and family planning.

Next, R. James White, MD, from the division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center, shares details on the study “Contemporary Risk Scores Predict Clinical Worsening in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension – An Analysis of FREEDOM-EV.” Dr. White is the senior author on the study, and discusses how he became interested in risk scores for pulmonary arterial hypertension, including some of the exciting data that they reveal.

Prior to this study, none of the event-driven trials in PAH had previously incorporated serial assessment of risk scores like hemodynamics, laboratory values, exercise tolerance, and symptoms at baseline. Using data from the FREEDOM-EV trial, the study retrospectively compared the discriminant power of 4 risk scores, REVEAL 2.0, REVEAL Lite 2, 4-strata COMPERA 2.0, and the non-invasive French risk assessment, in predicting patients’ clinical worsening at baseline and at a 12-week follow up. You won’t want to miss Dr. White’s insights on this comparison!

Follow along in the November issue at www.jhltonline.org/current, or, if you’re an ISHLT member, log in at ishlt.org/journal-of-heart-lung-transplantation.  Don’t already get the Journal and want to read along? Join the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation at www.ishlt.org for a free subscription, or subscribe today at www.jhltonline.org.

This episode of JHLT: The Podcast, but not the studies within, is sponsored by Altavant Sciences.