RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Current management of cardiac transplant recipients.
JF British Heart Journal
JO Heart
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society
SP 703
OP 708
DO 10.1136/hrt.42.6.703
VO 42
IS 6
A1 S W Jamieson
A1 B A Reitz
A1 P E Oyer
A1 C P Bieber
A1 E B Stinson
A1 N E Shumway
YR 1979
UL http://heart.bmj.com/content/42/6/703.abstract
AB Changes in the management of cardiac transplant recipients over the past 10 years have resulted in a substantial improvement in the outlook for survival. Imuran and prednisone remain the primary immunosuppressive agents, but rabbit antihuman thymocyte globulin is used initially and reinstituted during rejection. Endomyocardial biopsy has allowed more precise diagnosis and management of rejection, and more recently immunological monitoring has been introduced to provide more frequent assessment of the host immune response. Infection is the major cause of death, and its diagnosis and treatment is managed aggressively. Current survival figures justify the use of cardiac transplantation, by an experienced team, when other measures have been exhausted.