title: Twenty years' experience at the Heart Transplant Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Heart Transplantation Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, now has 20 years' experience with heart transplantation (HTX). This study aims to evaluate long-term outcome after HTX including incidences of cancer and severe renal dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outcomes were reviewed using the transplant database of our department, the Scandiatransplant database, hospital medical records, and national database of biopsies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From December 31, 1992 to February 27, 2013, a total of 258 patients underwent index HTX. Survival for the whole patient cohort at 1 month and 1 year was 95% and 88%. Long-term survival estimates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 years were 80%, 70%, 55%, and 40%, respectively. Median survival time was 15.6 years. Significant improvement in survival was observed from the 1992-1998 vs. 1999-2005 era and the 1992-1998 vs. the 2006-2012 era. Three patients (1%) underwent renal transplantation, and 29 patients (11%) developed severe renal dysfunction requiring dialysis. Sixty-four (25%) patients developed cancer, with skin cancer being most common.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HTX is an excellent treatment for selected patients with end-stage heart failure. The prognosis has improved in the latest transplantation eras. With balanced immunosuppressive treatment, severe renal dysfunction and cancer can be limited to an acceptable level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital , Skejby , Denmark.
authors.forename: Tor Skibsted
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Clemmensen
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Munk
authors.forename: Else Marie
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Tram
authors.forename: Lars Bo
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Ilkjær
authors.forename: Inge Krogh
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Severinsen
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eiskjær
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015994:Incidence; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012042:Registries; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017741:Survivors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents