Heart transplantation. Four years' experience with conventional immunosuppression

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Transplant Surgery
• Immunology

Background:

• Heart transplantation is a critical treatment for end-stage heart failure.
• Conventional immunosuppression regimens are standard post-transplant care.
• Long-term outcomes and challenges require continuous evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the outcomes of heart transplantation over a four-year period.
• To assess the effectiveness of conventional immunosuppression in heart transplant recipients.
• To identify major causes of mortality and morbidity post-transplant.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 32 heart transplant cases over four years.
• Use of conventional immunosuppression protocols.
• Evaluation of survival rates, rejection episodes, infections, and hospital stay.

Main Results:

• Twenty of 32 patients (62.5%) were alive at the end of the study period.
• One-year survival rates ranged from 67% to 75% across study years.
• Actuarial survival was 70% at one year, 60% at two years, and 51% at three years.
• Leading causes of death included rejection (6), infection (3), and graft failure (2).
• Average postoperative hospital stay was 62 days.

Conclusions:

• Conventional immunosuppression can achieve significant long-term survival in heart transplant recipients.
• Patient age did not significantly impact survival rates within the studied groups.
• Ongoing management of rejection and infection remains crucial for improving transplant outcomes.