Increase in Frequency of Terminally Differentiated and Exhausted CD8+ T Cells Is Associated with Worse Clinical Outcomes after Mechanical Circulatory Support Device Implantation

LVAD+Pulsatility immediately post-OHT, with partial attenuation of this difference by 6 months, and normalization by 12 months post-OHT. Conclusion: Aortic stiffness is markedly increased immediately post-OHT among patients bridged with CF-LVADs, with attenuation of this increased stiffness over the first year after transplant. These results suggests that aortic vascular properties are dynamic and may be influenced as a result of alterations in the pulsatility of flow. As a greater number of patients are supported with CF-LVADs and as newer pump-technology attempts to modulate pulsatility, further research examining the role of alterations in flow patterns on vascular function and the potential resultant systemic sequela are needed.