title: The first year post-heart transplantation: use of immunosuppressive drugs and early complications.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Nasir Z
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Sulemanjee
authors.forename: Ramanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Merla
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lick
authors.forename: Serena M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Aunon
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manson
authors.forename: Lawrence S C
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Czer
authors.forename: Ernst R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Schwarz
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents