Open AccessHeart transplantation—An update
Author(s) -
Blum Ar,
Aravot Dan
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960191206
Subject(s) - medicine , azathioprine , heart transplantation , prednisone , monoclonal antibody , monoclonal , transplantation , immunosuppressive drug , immunology , intensive care medicine , pharmacology , cardiology , antibody , disease
Cardiologists caring for heart transplant recipients must be familiar with the pharmacology, drug interactions, and drug toxicity of those agents used extensively in clinical practice (cyclosporine, prednisone, azathioprine, polyclonal and monoclonal anti‐T‐cell agents) and the newer treatments [methotrexate, FK‐506, rapamycin, mycopheno‐late mofetil (RS61443), deoxyspergualin, anti‐CD4 monoclonal antibodies, total lymphoid irradiation, and photophoresis]. Another important aspect of medical follow‐up is the detection, differential diagnosis, and treatment of allograft dysfunction. Hemodynamic abnormalities that occur as a result of rejection or a direct drug effect must be differentiated from physiologic changes. Cardiac allograft vasculopathy is the primary impediment to the long‐term survival of heart transplant recipients. Immunopathogenesis, prevention, early detection, and treatment of allograft vasculopathy should be the major focus of heart transplantation research.