Franz Von Ziegler - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Franz Von Ziegler
Annals of transplantation : quarterly of the Polish Transplantation Society, 2013
Current guidelines advocate administration of inotropic agents to stabilize potential deceased he... more Current guidelines advocate administration of inotropic agents to stabilize potential deceased heart-beating donors. A consensus on the specific agent or combination therapy is lacking. We thus initiated a retrospective analysis of patients being transplanted at our center in a matched-pair study design focusing on survival after donor pre-treatment either with norepinephrine or dopamine. 936 patients (759 male; 177 female; mean age: 47.5 ± 15.4 years) were transplanted at our center between 8/1981 and 12/2010. An overall of 22 patient pairs (all male; mean age 55.4 ± 7.5 years; range 23-67 years) were matched according to our strict criteria. During follow-up (5037 ± 1791 days) 11 deaths occurred. Overall survival in both groups was not different (p=0.1438). In a sub-population analysis of all patient-pairs that completed 5-year follow-up (n=19), Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significant superior survival of recipients that received hearts pre-treated with norepinephrine vs. dopam...
Nuklearmedizin. Nuclear medicine, 2007
In patients with stable angina pectoris both morphological and functional information about the c... more In patients with stable angina pectoris both morphological and functional information about the coronary artery tree should be present before revascularization therapy is performed. High accuracy was shown for spiral computed tomography (MDCT) angiography acquired with a 64-slice CT scanner compared to invasive coronary angiography (ICA) in detecting "obstructive" coronary artery disease (CAD). Gated myocardial SPECT (MPI) is an established method for the noninvasive assessment of functional significance of coronary stenoses. Aim of the study was to evaluate the combination of 64-slice CT angiography plus MPI in comparison to ICA plus MPI in the detection of hemodynamically relevant coronary artery stenoses in a clinical setting. 30 patients (63 +/- 10.8 years, 23 men) with stable angina (21 with suspected, 9 with known CAD) were investigated. MPI, 64-slice CT angiography and ICA were performed, reversible and fixed perfusion defects were allocated to determining lesions s...
MMW Fortschritte der Medizin, Jan 2, 2004
Provided that adequate image quality is achieved, contrast-enhanced multislice spiral computed to... more Provided that adequate image quality is achieved, contrast-enhanced multislice spiral computed tomography enables the identification and characterisation of calcified and non-calcified coronary plaques. This is a major advance in the non-invasive assessment of coronary atherosclerosis that promises to open up new opportunities for a better understanding and risk stratification of this condition, with visualization of non-calcified hypodense lesions in particular appearing to be of prognostic importance. Current limitations of the technique relating mainly to temporal and spatial resolution may be eliminated by the introduction of a new generation of scanners enabling 64 slices and more.
Cardiac magnetic resonance (cMR) perfusion imaging is a promising technique to assess coronary ar... more Cardiac magnetic resonance (cMR) perfusion imaging is a promising technique to assess coronary artery disease (CAD). Our objective was to evaluate accuracy of various cMR imaging parameters to detect significant CAD as compared with angiography or fractional flow reserve (FFR). We prospectively enrolled 37 patients who underwent coronary angiography, FFR, and cMR perfusion imaging. Semiquantitative assessments, namely maximum up-slope and peak-intensity indexes, were derived from time-intensity ratios between rest and stress. Myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR), calculated using Fermi deconvolution technique, was the quantitative cMR imaging parameter. Qualitative assessments were visually performed by independent analysts. Accuracy of quantitative, semiquantitative, and qualitative cMR imaging data was compared with quantitative coronary angiography in 108 segments and FFR in 44 segments. Sensitivity and specificity for hemodynamically significant CAD (FFR < or = 0.75) were 92.9% and 56.7%, respectively, for MPR (cutoff, 2.06). Area under the curve to detect FFR < or = 0.75 was 0.78 for MPR (P < .01), 0.63 for up-slope (P = NS), and 0.66 (P = NS) for peak intensity. Sensitivity and specificity for anatomically significant CAD (> 50% diameter stenosis [DS]) were 87.2% and 49.2%, respectively, for MPR (cutoff, 2.06). Area under the curve was 0.75 for MPR, 0.69 for up-slope, and 0.65 for peak intensity to detect > 50% DS (all P < .05). Visual assessment yielded sensitivity of 78.6% and specificity of 65.5% to predict FFR < or = 0.75 and sensitivity of 74.5% and specificity of 67.2% to predict > 50% DS. Myocardial perfusion reserve appears to be the most accurate index to detect anatomical and hemodynamically significant CAD. Standardization of such quantitative methods, with minimal operator dependency, would be useful for clinical and research applications.
Diabetologie und Stoffwechsel
Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, 2014
The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, 2014
Although acute cellular rejection after heart transplantation (HTX) can be controlled by full-dos... more Although acute cellular rejection after heart transplantation (HTX) can be controlled by full-dose calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based immunosuppressive regimens, cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), nephrotoxicity, and malignancy remain ongoing problems. To evaluate the potential beneficial effects of sirolimus and CNI reduction, we compared de novo low-dose tacrolimus and sirolimus with standard tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-based immunosuppression after HTX. We analyzed a long-term follow-up cohort of 126 patients who underwent HTX during the period 1998-2005 and received either de novo low-dose tacrolimus/sirolimus (lowTAC/SIR; n = 61) or full-dose tacrolimus/MMF (TAC/MMF; n = 64). Freedom from treatment switch was less in the lowTAC/SIR group than in the TAC/MMF group (51.7% vs 73.0%, p = 0.038) 8 years after HTX. Freedom from acute rejection was 90.6% in the lowTAC/SIR group vs 80.3% in the TAC/MMF group (p = 0.100). There was no difference in freedom from International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation CAV grade ≥1 (55.4% vs 60.0%, p = 0.922), time until CAV diagnosis (4.2 ± 2.0 years vs 3.2 ± 2.4 years, p = 0.087), and CAV severity (p = 0.618). The benefit of reduced early maximum creatinine for lowTAC/SIR treatment (1.8 ± 0.9 mg/dl vs 2.4 ± 1.1 mg/dl in TAC/MMF group, p < 0.001) did not continue 5 years and 8 years after HTX (1.4 ± 0.4 mg/dl vs 1.7 ± 1.2 mg/dl, p = 0.333, and 1.6 ± 1.1 mg/dl vs 1.6 ± 0.8 mg/dl, p = 0.957). The trend for superior survival at 5 years with lowTAC/SIR treatment (93.1% vs 81.3% in TAC/MMF group, p = 0.051) could not be confirmed after 8 years (84.7% vs 75.0%, p = 0.138). Multivariate analysis at 8 years did not reveal any benefit of lowTAC/SIR treatment. Reduction of de novo CNI did not result in superior long-term renal function. Low-dose mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibition did not achieve any benefit in CAV prevention compared with full-dose TAC/MMF after HTX.
Transplantation, 2011
The angiographic incidence of coronary dilatation (CD) in the nontransplant population is approxi... more The angiographic incidence of coronary dilatation (CD) in the nontransplant population is approximately 0.2% to 5%. The endothelial-dependent and -independent causes for CD are postulated. So far, the incidence and prognosis of CD after heart transplantation is unknown. We retrospectively analyzed the annual coronary angiographies of 688 heart transplant recipients regarding the incidence of CD (defined as ≥1.5-fold localized increased vessel diameter or diffuse dilatation involving more than 50% of the coronary artery). A subgroup analysis of coronary epicardial (quantitative angiography) and microvascular (doppler flow measurement) vasomotor function in response to acetylcholine (endothelial dependent) and adenosine (endothelial independent) as well as intravascular ultrasound was performed in 177 patients. CD was detectable in 26 patients (3.8%) and was associated with stenosing coronary artery disease in 27% of the patients. Segments with CD tended to have less intimal hyperplasia compared with nondilated segments. A diffuse dilatation (type I-II) was present in 63% of the recipients. The right coronary artery was always involved. The patients with CD (5 of 177) showed a 31% reduced flow velocity in the dilated coronaries compared with the nondilated coronary arteries (P=0.03). Microvascular endothelial-independent function was impaired in CD by -29% (coronary flow reserve mean 1.9 vs. 2.7; P=0.04), whereas endothelial-dependent response was unchanged. Epicardial endothelial-dependent and -independent responses were not different between the groups. Incidence of CD was not associated with limited survival. The incidence of CD in the nontransplant population is similar to that in the transplanted population. However, the latter shows a more diffuse extent. Heart transplantation patients with CD had microvascular endothelial-independent functional limitations and flow deceleration, whereas survival was not affected.
Transplantation, 2011
Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) still limits survival after heart transplantation. Currently... more Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) still limits survival after heart transplantation. Currently available noninvasive tests are of inferior value to detect CAV, and thus invasive coronary angiography (ICA) is frequently performed. Cardiac dual-source computed tomography calcium scoring (DSCTCS) offers the possibility to detect coronary calcifications, which might serve as a noninvasive marker of CAV. This study sought to evaluate its clinical feasibility. One hundred sixty-one patients (130 men; 31 women; mean age: 50.5±12.1 years) underwent DSCTCS 1±2 days before annual routine ICA. Mean posttransplant time was 73.7±49.6 months. The results of DSCTCS were compared with ICA. In 100 patients (85 men; 15 women; mean age: 51.5±12.3 years), coronary calcifications were detected, and in 61 patients (45 men; 16 women; mean age: 49.0±11.7 years), coronary calcifications were excluded. ICA excluded CAV in 82 patients (63 men; 19 women; mean age: 48.6±11.9 years). In 79 patients (67 men; 12 women; mean age: 52.5±12.2 years), CAV was detected of whom 11 patients needed stent implantation. No statistically significant difference of DSCTCS in patients without (17.2±29.5; range: 0-190) and with CAV (33.4±66.8; range: 0-385) was observed (P=0.133). Moreover, 4 of 11 (36.4%) severely diseased patients had a calcium score of zero. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value for CAV detection (calcium score threshold >0) was calculated as 72.2%, 47.6%, 47.7%, and 57.0%, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy was 59.6%. DSCTCS is not a valuable noninvasive modality for CAV detection and thus not recommended in clinical practice. Moreover, we hypothesize that it represents preexisting or de novo traditional coronary atherosclerosis than CAV.
Transplant International, 2012
Present study evaluates clinical feasibility of cardiac dual-source computed tomography angiograp... more Present study evaluates clinical feasibility of cardiac dual-source computed tomography angiography (DSCTA) to detect significant coronary stenosis because of chronic allograft vasculopathy (CAV) after heart transplantation (HTX). An overall of 51 consecutive heart transplant recipients (43 men, 8 women, mean age: 52.3 ± 13.6 years) underwent DSCTA 1 ± 2 days before annual routine invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Three patients were excluded from further analysis. Total 714/717 (99.6%) segments in remaining 48 patients were depicted in diagnostic image quality by DSCTA with three vessel segments in two patients being additionally excluded because of motion artefacts. On a segment-based analysis, sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy (DA) for detection of significant stenosis were calculated as 100%, 98.9% and 98.9% respectively. On a patient-based evaluation, sensitivity, specificity and DA were 100%, 86.0% and 93.0% respectively for remaining 46 patients. Negative predictive value (NPV) was 100%. DSCTA enables diagnosis and especially the exclusion of significant coronary artery stenosis in patients after HTX with a high NPV. The low rate of excluded vessel segments compared with former studies indicates improvement in image acquisition and robustness of latest scanner technology and thus may make subsequent annual invasive coronary angiography unnecessary.
The Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon, 2011
RöFo - Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der Röntgenstrahlen und der bildgebenden Verfahren, 2005
RöFo - Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der Röntgenstrahlen und der bildgebenden Verfahren, 2006
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2005
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2004
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2011
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2011
Annals of transplantation : quarterly of the Polish Transplantation Society, 2013
Current guidelines advocate administration of inotropic agents to stabilize potential deceased he... more Current guidelines advocate administration of inotropic agents to stabilize potential deceased heart-beating donors. A consensus on the specific agent or combination therapy is lacking. We thus initiated a retrospective analysis of patients being transplanted at our center in a matched-pair study design focusing on survival after donor pre-treatment either with norepinephrine or dopamine. 936 patients (759 male; 177 female; mean age: 47.5 ± 15.4 years) were transplanted at our center between 8/1981 and 12/2010. An overall of 22 patient pairs (all male; mean age 55.4 ± 7.5 years; range 23-67 years) were matched according to our strict criteria. During follow-up (5037 ± 1791 days) 11 deaths occurred. Overall survival in both groups was not different (p=0.1438). In a sub-population analysis of all patient-pairs that completed 5-year follow-up (n=19), Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significant superior survival of recipients that received hearts pre-treated with norepinephrine vs. dopam...
Nuklearmedizin. Nuclear medicine, 2007
In patients with stable angina pectoris both morphological and functional information about the c... more In patients with stable angina pectoris both morphological and functional information about the coronary artery tree should be present before revascularization therapy is performed. High accuracy was shown for spiral computed tomography (MDCT) angiography acquired with a 64-slice CT scanner compared to invasive coronary angiography (ICA) in detecting "obstructive" coronary artery disease (CAD). Gated myocardial SPECT (MPI) is an established method for the noninvasive assessment of functional significance of coronary stenoses. Aim of the study was to evaluate the combination of 64-slice CT angiography plus MPI in comparison to ICA plus MPI in the detection of hemodynamically relevant coronary artery stenoses in a clinical setting. 30 patients (63 +/- 10.8 years, 23 men) with stable angina (21 with suspected, 9 with known CAD) were investigated. MPI, 64-slice CT angiography and ICA were performed, reversible and fixed perfusion defects were allocated to determining lesions s...
MMW Fortschritte der Medizin, Jan 2, 2004
Provided that adequate image quality is achieved, contrast-enhanced multislice spiral computed to... more Provided that adequate image quality is achieved, contrast-enhanced multislice spiral computed tomography enables the identification and characterisation of calcified and non-calcified coronary plaques. This is a major advance in the non-invasive assessment of coronary atherosclerosis that promises to open up new opportunities for a better understanding and risk stratification of this condition, with visualization of non-calcified hypodense lesions in particular appearing to be of prognostic importance. Current limitations of the technique relating mainly to temporal and spatial resolution may be eliminated by the introduction of a new generation of scanners enabling 64 slices and more.
Cardiac magnetic resonance (cMR) perfusion imaging is a promising technique to assess coronary ar... more Cardiac magnetic resonance (cMR) perfusion imaging is a promising technique to assess coronary artery disease (CAD). Our objective was to evaluate accuracy of various cMR imaging parameters to detect significant CAD as compared with angiography or fractional flow reserve (FFR). We prospectively enrolled 37 patients who underwent coronary angiography, FFR, and cMR perfusion imaging. Semiquantitative assessments, namely maximum up-slope and peak-intensity indexes, were derived from time-intensity ratios between rest and stress. Myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR), calculated using Fermi deconvolution technique, was the quantitative cMR imaging parameter. Qualitative assessments were visually performed by independent analysts. Accuracy of quantitative, semiquantitative, and qualitative cMR imaging data was compared with quantitative coronary angiography in 108 segments and FFR in 44 segments. Sensitivity and specificity for hemodynamically significant CAD (FFR < or = 0.75) were 92.9% and 56.7%, respectively, for MPR (cutoff, 2.06). Area under the curve to detect FFR < or = 0.75 was 0.78 for MPR (P < .01), 0.63 for up-slope (P = NS), and 0.66 (P = NS) for peak intensity. Sensitivity and specificity for anatomically significant CAD (> 50% diameter stenosis [DS]) were 87.2% and 49.2%, respectively, for MPR (cutoff, 2.06). Area under the curve was 0.75 for MPR, 0.69 for up-slope, and 0.65 for peak intensity to detect > 50% DS (all P < .05). Visual assessment yielded sensitivity of 78.6% and specificity of 65.5% to predict FFR < or = 0.75 and sensitivity of 74.5% and specificity of 67.2% to predict > 50% DS. Myocardial perfusion reserve appears to be the most accurate index to detect anatomical and hemodynamically significant CAD. Standardization of such quantitative methods, with minimal operator dependency, would be useful for clinical and research applications.
Diabetologie und Stoffwechsel
Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, 2014
The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, 2014
Although acute cellular rejection after heart transplantation (HTX) can be controlled by full-dos... more Although acute cellular rejection after heart transplantation (HTX) can be controlled by full-dose calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based immunosuppressive regimens, cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), nephrotoxicity, and malignancy remain ongoing problems. To evaluate the potential beneficial effects of sirolimus and CNI reduction, we compared de novo low-dose tacrolimus and sirolimus with standard tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-based immunosuppression after HTX. We analyzed a long-term follow-up cohort of 126 patients who underwent HTX during the period 1998-2005 and received either de novo low-dose tacrolimus/sirolimus (lowTAC/SIR; n = 61) or full-dose tacrolimus/MMF (TAC/MMF; n = 64). Freedom from treatment switch was less in the lowTAC/SIR group than in the TAC/MMF group (51.7% vs 73.0%, p = 0.038) 8 years after HTX. Freedom from acute rejection was 90.6% in the lowTAC/SIR group vs 80.3% in the TAC/MMF group (p = 0.100). There was no difference in freedom from International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation CAV grade ≥1 (55.4% vs 60.0%, p = 0.922), time until CAV diagnosis (4.2 ± 2.0 years vs 3.2 ± 2.4 years, p = 0.087), and CAV severity (p = 0.618). The benefit of reduced early maximum creatinine for lowTAC/SIR treatment (1.8 ± 0.9 mg/dl vs 2.4 ± 1.1 mg/dl in TAC/MMF group, p < 0.001) did not continue 5 years and 8 years after HTX (1.4 ± 0.4 mg/dl vs 1.7 ± 1.2 mg/dl, p = 0.333, and 1.6 ± 1.1 mg/dl vs 1.6 ± 0.8 mg/dl, p = 0.957). The trend for superior survival at 5 years with lowTAC/SIR treatment (93.1% vs 81.3% in TAC/MMF group, p = 0.051) could not be confirmed after 8 years (84.7% vs 75.0%, p = 0.138). Multivariate analysis at 8 years did not reveal any benefit of lowTAC/SIR treatment. Reduction of de novo CNI did not result in superior long-term renal function. Low-dose mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibition did not achieve any benefit in CAV prevention compared with full-dose TAC/MMF after HTX.
Transplantation, 2011
The angiographic incidence of coronary dilatation (CD) in the nontransplant population is approxi... more The angiographic incidence of coronary dilatation (CD) in the nontransplant population is approximately 0.2% to 5%. The endothelial-dependent and -independent causes for CD are postulated. So far, the incidence and prognosis of CD after heart transplantation is unknown. We retrospectively analyzed the annual coronary angiographies of 688 heart transplant recipients regarding the incidence of CD (defined as ≥1.5-fold localized increased vessel diameter or diffuse dilatation involving more than 50% of the coronary artery). A subgroup analysis of coronary epicardial (quantitative angiography) and microvascular (doppler flow measurement) vasomotor function in response to acetylcholine (endothelial dependent) and adenosine (endothelial independent) as well as intravascular ultrasound was performed in 177 patients. CD was detectable in 26 patients (3.8%) and was associated with stenosing coronary artery disease in 27% of the patients. Segments with CD tended to have less intimal hyperplasia compared with nondilated segments. A diffuse dilatation (type I-II) was present in 63% of the recipients. The right coronary artery was always involved. The patients with CD (5 of 177) showed a 31% reduced flow velocity in the dilated coronaries compared with the nondilated coronary arteries (P=0.03). Microvascular endothelial-independent function was impaired in CD by -29% (coronary flow reserve mean 1.9 vs. 2.7; P=0.04), whereas endothelial-dependent response was unchanged. Epicardial endothelial-dependent and -independent responses were not different between the groups. Incidence of CD was not associated with limited survival. The incidence of CD in the nontransplant population is similar to that in the transplanted population. However, the latter shows a more diffuse extent. Heart transplantation patients with CD had microvascular endothelial-independent functional limitations and flow deceleration, whereas survival was not affected.
Transplantation, 2011
Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) still limits survival after heart transplantation. Currently... more Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) still limits survival after heart transplantation. Currently available noninvasive tests are of inferior value to detect CAV, and thus invasive coronary angiography (ICA) is frequently performed. Cardiac dual-source computed tomography calcium scoring (DSCTCS) offers the possibility to detect coronary calcifications, which might serve as a noninvasive marker of CAV. This study sought to evaluate its clinical feasibility. One hundred sixty-one patients (130 men; 31 women; mean age: 50.5±12.1 years) underwent DSCTCS 1±2 days before annual routine ICA. Mean posttransplant time was 73.7±49.6 months. The results of DSCTCS were compared with ICA. In 100 patients (85 men; 15 women; mean age: 51.5±12.3 years), coronary calcifications were detected, and in 61 patients (45 men; 16 women; mean age: 49.0±11.7 years), coronary calcifications were excluded. ICA excluded CAV in 82 patients (63 men; 19 women; mean age: 48.6±11.9 years). In 79 patients (67 men; 12 women; mean age: 52.5±12.2 years), CAV was detected of whom 11 patients needed stent implantation. No statistically significant difference of DSCTCS in patients without (17.2±29.5; range: 0-190) and with CAV (33.4±66.8; range: 0-385) was observed (P=0.133). Moreover, 4 of 11 (36.4%) severely diseased patients had a calcium score of zero. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value for CAV detection (calcium score threshold >0) was calculated as 72.2%, 47.6%, 47.7%, and 57.0%, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy was 59.6%. DSCTCS is not a valuable noninvasive modality for CAV detection and thus not recommended in clinical practice. Moreover, we hypothesize that it represents preexisting or de novo traditional coronary atherosclerosis than CAV.
Transplant International, 2012
Present study evaluates clinical feasibility of cardiac dual-source computed tomography angiograp... more Present study evaluates clinical feasibility of cardiac dual-source computed tomography angiography (DSCTA) to detect significant coronary stenosis because of chronic allograft vasculopathy (CAV) after heart transplantation (HTX). An overall of 51 consecutive heart transplant recipients (43 men, 8 women, mean age: 52.3 ± 13.6 years) underwent DSCTA 1 ± 2 days before annual routine invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Three patients were excluded from further analysis. Total 714/717 (99.6%) segments in remaining 48 patients were depicted in diagnostic image quality by DSCTA with three vessel segments in two patients being additionally excluded because of motion artefacts. On a segment-based analysis, sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy (DA) for detection of significant stenosis were calculated as 100%, 98.9% and 98.9% respectively. On a patient-based evaluation, sensitivity, specificity and DA were 100%, 86.0% and 93.0% respectively for remaining 46 patients. Negative predictive value (NPV) was 100%. DSCTA enables diagnosis and especially the exclusion of significant coronary artery stenosis in patients after HTX with a high NPV. The low rate of excluded vessel segments compared with former studies indicates improvement in image acquisition and robustness of latest scanner technology and thus may make subsequent annual invasive coronary angiography unnecessary.
The Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon, 2011
RöFo - Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der Röntgenstrahlen und der bildgebenden Verfahren, 2005
RöFo - Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der Röntgenstrahlen und der bildgebenden Verfahren, 2006
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2005
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2004
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2011
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2011