Heart transplantation in dilated heart muscle disease and myocarditis

J B O'Connell1, T J Breen, J D Hosenpud

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Centre, Jackson 39216-4505, USA.

European Heart Journal
|December 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Cardiac transplant recipients with dilated heart muscle disease show improved survival. This study of 14,055 patients confirms dilated heart muscle disease is a favorable diagnosis for heart transplantation.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Transplantation Medicine
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Cardiac transplantation is a life-saving procedure for end-stage heart failure.
  • Pre-transplant diagnosis influences long-term outcomes in heart recipients.
  • Dilated heart muscle disease is a common indication for cardiac transplantation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if dilated heart muscle disease as a pre-transplant diagnosis predicts survival in cardiac transplant recipients.
  • To compare survival rates between patients with dilated heart muscle disease and those with other cardiac diagnoses.
  • To analyze survival outcomes stratified by sex.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 14,055 cardiac transplant recipients.
  • Comparison of survival rates based on pre-transplant diagnosis.
  • Multivariate analysis to assess independent predictors of survival.
  • Stratification of results by sex.

Main Results:

  • Overall one-year survival exceeded 80% across all patient groups.
  • Patients with dilated heart muscle disease demonstrated a statistically significant, albeit small, survival advantage.
  • Survival outcomes were comparable between sexes within specific diagnostic groups.
  • Multivariate analysis confirmed a significant difference (P=0.02) with a relative risk of 0.927.

Conclusions:

  • Dilated heart muscle disease is not a contraindication for cardiac transplantation.
  • Carefully selected patients with dilated heart muscle disease represent excellent candidates for heart transplantation.
  • Pre-transplant diagnosis is a significant factor in cardiac transplant outcomes.

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