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The majority of cardiac transplant recipients experience at least one episode of rejection in the first year after transplantation. Acute cellular rejection is most likely to occur in the first 6 months, with a significant decline in the incidence of rejection after this time. Although immunosuppressants are required on a life-long basis, dosing is adjusted based on graft function and the grade of acute cellular rejection determined by histopathology. Endomyocardial biopsies are typically taken from the right ventricle via the jugular vein on a weekly basis for the first month, and once or twice monthly for the following 6 months. Surveillance biopsies may also be performed on a yearly basis following stabilization.

While endomyocardial biopsy is the gold standard for assessing heart transplant rejection, biopsy may be limited by a high degree of interobserver variability in grading of results and the significant morbidity and even mortality that can occur with the biopsy procedure. Also, the severity of rejection may not always coincide with the grading of the rejection by biopsy. Finally, biopsy cannot be used to identify patients at risk of rejection, limiting the ability to initiate therapy to interrupt the development of rejection. For these reasons, endomyocardial biopsy is considered a flawed gold standard by many. Therefore, noninvasive methods of detecting cellular rejection have been explored. It is hoped that non-invasive tests will assist in determining appropriate patient management and avoid overuse or underuse of treatment with steroids and other immunosuppressants that can occur with false negative and false positive biopsy reports. Two techniques have become commercially available for the detection of heart transplant rejection.

In February 2004, the Heartsbreath test (Menssana Research, Inc.) received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through a Humanitarian Device Exemption. The Heartsbreath test is indicated for use as an aid in the diagnosis of grade 3 heart transplant rejection in patients who have received heart transplants within the preceding year. The device is intended to be used as an adjunct to, and not as a substitute for, endomyocardial biopsy, and is also limited to patients who have had endomyocardial biopsy within the previous month. The Heartsbreath test (Menssana Research, Inc.) is a noninvasive test that measures breath markers of oxidative stress that has been developed to assist in the detection of heart transplant rejection. In heart transplant recipients, oxidative stress appears to accompany allograft rejection that degrades membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids and evolving alkanes and methylalkanes that are in turn excreted as volatile organic compounds in breath. The Heartsbreath test analyzes the breath methylated alkane contour (BMAC), which is derived from the abundance of C4-C20 alkanes and monomethylalkanes and has been identified as a marker to detect grade 3 (significant) heart transplant rejection.

Another approach has focused on patterns of gene expression of immunomodulatory cells, as detected in the peripheral blood. For example, microarray technology permits the analysis of the gene expression of thousands of genes, including those with functions that are known or unknown. Patterns of gene expression can then be correlated with known clinical conditions, permitting a selection of a finite number of genes to compose a custom multigene test panel, which then can be evaluated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. AlloMap™ is a commercially available molecular expression test that has been developed to detect acute heart transplant rejection or the development of graft dysfunction. The test involves PCR expression measurement of a panel of genes derived from peripheral blood cells, and applies an algorithm to the results. The algorithm produces a single score that considers the contribution of each gene in the panel. Gene expression profiling is also under investigation for other inflammatory conditions, such as Crohn’s disease and systemic lupus erythematosus.

In August 2008, AlloMap Molecular Expression Testing (XDx) was cleared for marketing by the FDA through the 510(k) process. The FDA determined that this device was substantially equivalent to existing devices, in conjunction with clinical assessment, for aiding in the identification of heart transplant recipients with stable allograft function who have a low probability of moderate/severe transplant rejection. It is intended for patients at least 15 years old who are at least 2 months post-transplant.

Also, see the Heart Transplant medical policy.

The evaluation of genetic expression in the peripheral blood, including, but not limited to, the detection of acute heart transplant rejection or graft dysfunction is considered investigational.

Investigative service is defined as the use of any treatment procedure, facility, equipment, drug, device, or supply not yet recognized by certifying boards and/or approving or licensing agencies or published peer review criteria as standard, effective medical practice for the treatment of the condition being treated and as such therefore is not considered medically necessary.

The coverage guidelines outlined in the Medical Policy Manual should not be used in lieu of the Member's specific benefit plan language.

6/6/2005: Code Reference section completed

2/20/2006: Peripheral blood gene expression section added

12/22/2008: Policy reviewed, no changes

04/20/2010:  Policy description and guidelines updated regarding noninvasive methods of detecting cellular rejection; policy statement unchanged. FEP verbiage added to the Policy Exceptions section.

12/28/2010: Policy reviewed; no changes.

05/09/2012: Policy reviewed; no changes.

All codes billed for this procedure are considered investigational and not eligible for coverage. 

Non-Covered Codes

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