Immunologic and surgical developments in cardiac transplantation.
Clinical work in cardiac transplantation has focused on combating the major complications of this procedure, namely graft rejection and infection.  Retrospective analyses suggest that prospective HLA typing, as is done in renal transplantation, may improve patient survival. Trials using FK 506 in cardiac transplantation have demonstrated some benefit using this agent over cyclosporine.  Innovative immunologic interventions using novel monoclonal antibodies, methotrexate, total lymphoid irradiation, or photochemotherapy have shown promise in treating allograft rejection.  Finally, prophylactic ganciclovir appears to prevent cytomegalovirus disease in seropositive transplant recipients; however, prevention of primary infection in seronegative patients may prove more difficult.
Nisco
S J
SJ
Stanford University School of Medicine, California.
Reitz
B A
BA
D002648:Child; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use