The first year post-heart transplantation: use of immunosuppressive drugs and early complications.
A large number of heart transplants are performed annually in different transplant centers in the United States. This is partly because of the improved survival of patients who undergo cardiac transplantation, thus making it a more viable option in the management of end-stage heart failure. The survival benefit after heart transplantation is a result of newer immunosuppressive drug regimens and a better understanding of their effects and interactions. Several studies, mostly involving a small number of patients, describe use and comparison of the many distinct immunosuppressive drugs available to date. Interestingly, many transplant centers perform in-house typical induction treatment regimens because of their own experience and intra-institutional preference. This review summarizes current practices of immunosuppressive drug therapy in the first year post-heart transplant based on the available clinical evidence and discusses future options of heart transplant immunosuppressive drug therapies.
Sulemanjee
Nasir Z
NZ
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
Merla
Ramanna
R
Lick
Scott D
SD
Aunon
Serena M
SM
Taylor
Melissa
M
Manson
Melissa
M
Czer
Lawrence S C
LS
Schwarz
Ernst R
ER
D015897:Comorbidity; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D006782:Hospitals, Special / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents