The Quilty Effect in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients

s S75 dd-cfDNA levels between 13 rejection, 14 post-rejection, and 217 non-rejection samples (R vs NR, p= 0.96), and no significant difference in dd-cfDNA levels between biopsy grades (132 OR, 103 1R, and 8 2R samples; p= 0.85 for OR vs ≥ 2R). Of interest was the observation that dd-cfDNA levels rose prior to rejection in 3/5 patients, and decreased post-rejection in 5/8 patients; and patients with only Grade 0 biopsies had consistently low dd-cfDNA levels. Conclusion: With approximately half of this pediatric cohort tested, we found no difference in dd-cfDNA levels between biopsy grades or in pediatric patients with treated acute rejection events. Additional studies are required to determine why the positive results reported in adults were not replicated in children.