title: The need for a tailored immunosuppression in older heart transplant recipients.
abstract: Advanced recipient age is considered a relative contraindication for heart transplantation because it might be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We analyzed 349 consecutive heart transplantations performed at our institution from 1995 to 2002 (n = 349, mean follow-up 3.5 +/- 2.5 years). The survival rate was lower in older recipients. Less chronic rejection but increased risk for infectious complications, renal failure and neoplasms indicate the need for decreased immunosuppression and effective infection prophylaxis in older recipients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany. drmaus@aol.com
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaczmarek
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sadoni
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmoeckel
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lamm
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daebritz
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veberfuhr
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meiser
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reichart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002302:Cardiac Output; D002648:Child; D000075202:Contraindications; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000453:epidemiology; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003404:Creatinine