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Summary
Heart transplantation is a promising treatment for end-stage heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy. Patients experience improved physical capacity and cardiac function, with good long-term survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Transplantation Medicine
Context:
- End-stage heart failure from dilated cardiomyopathy is a primary indication for heart transplantation.
- Clinical judgment, not solely prognostic indicators, guides transplantation decisions.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the outcomes of orthotopic heart transplantation in patients with end-stage heart failure, particularly those with dilated cardiomyopathy.
Summary:
- 50 patients underwent heart transplantation, 38 with dilated cardiomyopathy, between 1983 and present.
- Survival rates are 60-80% at one year and over 50% at five years.
- 38 patients are alive, 34 discharged, 14 returned to work/school with normal physical capacity and cardiac function.
Impact:
- Heart transplantation offers a promising routine treatment for end-stage heart failure, especially in younger dilated cardiomyopathy patients.
- Outcomes, including rejection and infection rates, are comparable between dilated cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease patients.