Cardiac failure, transplantation and donation: current perspectives

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Transplantation Medicine

Background:

• Cardiac failure is a major global health issue with significant morbidity and mortality.
• Existing treatments for end-stage heart failure vary in safety and efficacy.
• Novel therapies like stem cell grafting and left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are emerging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current perspectives on heart failure treatment modalities.
• To highlight advancements in stem cell therapy and LVADs as bridges to transplantation.
• To examine challenges in cardiac transplantation, particularly in developing countries, and explore solutions to improve the donor-recipient ratio.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of recent years.
• Analysis of current advancements, knowledge, and research trends in heart failure management.
• Exploration of factors limiting modern treatment adoption in developing nations.

Main Results:

• Stem cell grafting and LVADs offer promising transient and permanent therapeutic options for end-stage heart failure.
• Cardiac transplantation remains the definitive treatment but faces significant global limitations.
• Barriers to cardiac donation and transplantation in developing countries require targeted interventions.

Conclusions:

• While novel therapies advance, cardiac transplantation faces challenges hindering widespread application.
• Addressing the low donor-recipient ratio is critical for improving heart failure management globally.
• Further research and policy changes are needed to enhance access to advanced heart failure treatments, especially in resource-limited settings.