Thursday, February 16, 2012

I was there first; I was their 1st

Heart transplantation and cardiac amyloidosis: Approach to screening and novel management strategies
The Journal of Heart and Lung TransplantationVolume 31, Issue 3March 2012Pages 325-331
Brandon C. Varr, Michaela Liedtke, Sally Arai, Richard A. Lafayette, Stanley L. Schrier, Ronald M. Witteles
Abstract
Limited data exist regarding screening methods and outcomes for orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) in cardiac amyloidosis. As a result, uncertainty exists over the best approach to OHT for cardiac amyloidosis and for the timing of critical post-transplant therapies. This article reviews 6 patients who underwent OHT for cardiac amyloidosis at the Stanford University Amyloid Center from 2008 to present. All patients with light-chainamyloidosis received chemotherapy in the interval between OHT and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Five patients remain alive up to 25 months after OHT, without evidence of recurrent cardiac amyloid deposition. A novel strategy of OHT, followed by light-chain suppressive chemotherapy before autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant, is feasible for patients with light-chain amyloidosis.


This was very cool to read a scientific article where I was one of the subjects. I am celebrating 3 1/2 years today (42 month follow up); so I rode my bike to work.
The Velcade is working great.
Life is good, really good.

Kevin

5 comments:

Tony said...

Congrats Kevin!
I saw the article last week while searching on the Stanford Web Site I immediately thought of you since you're the 1st one.
We are blessed to have such great Doctors at Stanford!
Hard to believe this April it will be seven years for me since the stem cell transplant, time flies by fast when you're living in the positive!
My best to you and Barbie!

Blessings,
Tony

Jenny said...

Thank you for sharing you story and strength. My brother is going through this now after being mis diagnosed for over a year. I have sent your story to him to let him letting him know there is hope and to remind me too. Thank you and thank Barbie for sharing your strength.

IAmHere said...

Congrats Kevin.
Always good to know you are doing well.
Good wishes to you and Barbie.

joel'lene

IAmHere said...

Well done Kevin!!!
Always good to hear you are well.
Warm Wishes to you and Barbie.

Joel'lene

Effa Farnsworth said...

So happy to know you are still riding bikes to work! We love and miss you and think of you often, especially over this Easter Holiday.