Research landscapes and knowledge structure of cardiac xenotransplantation: A bibliometric analysis

Cardiac xenotransplantation is advancing rapidly from basic research to early clinical use, but its research landscape has not been comprehensively mapped. We conducted a bibliometric and science-mapping analysis of English-language articles and reviews in the Web of Science Core Collection (1964-2025). Using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Bibliometrix, we assessed publication growth, collaboration networks, citation impact, and topic trends. The field has grown steadily and has accelerated in recent years in parallel with key clinical developments. Collaboration is strongest among institutions in the United States, Europe, and East Asia, and a small number of authors and centers contribute a large share of publications. Most studies are published in specialty transplantation journals, whereas major breakthroughs often appear in general medical journals. Research topics continue to focus on rejection and complement biology, while newer work highlights gene-edited donors, biosafety, clinical trial readiness, and pig-to-human models. Overall, the field appears to be maturing toward clinical implementation, and these findings can help guide research priorities, funding decisions, and policy planning.