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Paternity by cardiac transplant recipients
L E Wagoner1, D O Taylor, G D Price
1Division of Cardiology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City.
Transplantation
|May 15, 1994
Summary
Paternity after cardiac transplantation appears safe, with few adverse outcomes observed in children fathered by heart transplant recipients. This study suggests a low risk of teratogenicity for offspring of cardiac allograft recipients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Transplantation immunology
- Reproductive medicine
Background:
- Cardiac transplant recipients often have concerns about the safety of fathering children.
- Assessing the risk of teratogenicity in offspring is crucial for post-transplant family planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the risk of teratogenicity in children fathered by cardiac transplant recipients.
- To determine the safety of paternity for individuals who have undergone heart or heart-lung transplantation.
Main Methods:
- A survey of cardiac transplant centers affiliated with the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.
- Data collection on pregnancies, paternal health, immunosuppressive regimens, and offspring outcomes.
Main Results:
- 42 pregnancies resulted in children fathered by 36 cardiac transplant recipients.
- Most fathers were <45 years old and had active lifestyles.
- Low incidence of adverse outcomes: 7% preterm birth, 2% cleft palate/lip, 2% intrauterine fetal demise, 2% congenital cardiomyopathy.
Conclusions:
- Paternity by cardiac transplant recipients is associated with a low risk of teratogenicity.
- Available data suggest that fathering children after cardiac transplantation is generally safe.
- Further research with larger cohorts is warranted to confirm these findings.