Heart transplantation: current status

Two hundred ninety-three patients transplanted between March 1979 and October 1990 are reviewed. A comparison of survival curves suggests that our current triple therapy results in a half-life (15 years) which is twice that anticipated with either conventional or CsA and P therapy. Rejection occurs primarily in the first 1-3 months after transplantation and with our current therapy, is rarely seen thereafter. Infection, however, continues to be a threat with an incidence of approximately 10% per year. The major threats to long-term survival appear to be graft arteriosclerosis, infection, and malignancy.