The Past, Present and Future of Heart Transplantation.

ABSTRACT: Heart transplantation (HTx) has become standard treatment for selected patients with end-stage heart failure. Improvements in immunosuppressant, donor procurement, surgical techniques, and post-HTx care have resulted in a substantial decrease in acute allograft rejection, which had previously significantly limited survival of HTx recipients. However, limitations to long-term allograft survival exist, including rejection, infection, coronary allograft vasculopathy, and malignancy. Careful balance of immunosuppressive therapy and vigilant surveillance for complications can further improve long-term outcomes of HTx recipients.

SUBMITTER: Kim IC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6031715 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature