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Heart transplant rejection happens when your immune system recognizes a donor heart as a foreign object. It sends T cells or antibodies to attack the invader. This can occur even with antirejection drugs for heart transplant patients.
Heart transplant rejection (HTR) occurs when the recipient's immune system identifies the transplanted heart as foreign and attacks it, potentially leading to graft dysfunction or failure. Rejection can be acute or chronic, with acute rejection typically presenting within the first year post-transplant and chronic rejection developing over time.
The most common type of heart transplant rejection is called acute cellular rejection. This happens when your T-cells (part of your immune system) attack the cells of your new heart. It happens most often in the first 3 to 6 months after transplant. Humoral rejection is a less common type.
Despite the use of potent immunosuppressive agents, acute cellular rejection (ACR) and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) remain important problems in heart transplantation. This topic discusses the clinical manifestations and diagnosis of acute cardiac allograft rejection.
The success of heart transplantation in the 1980s was enabled by the ability to diagnose rejection by transjugular right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy, a technique developed by Philip Caves in 1973.
Despite the use of potent immunosuppressive agents both immediately after cardiac transplantation and during long-term maintenance, acute rejection is a frequent and important problem. This topic will review the treatment of cellular and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR).
To determine whether your body is rejecting the new heart, you'll have frequent heart biopsies in the first few months after heart transplantation, when rejection is most likely to occur. The frequency of necessary biopsies decreases over time.
Early treatment is critical to successfully reversing rejection. Do not try to treat your symptoms yourself. What to Expect FAQs. Currently, the only way to diagnose organ rejection is a heart biopsy. Routine biopsies begin about two weeks after your heart transplant. Learn more here.
Despite the progress and improved overall outcomes, heart transplantation rejection (HTR) remains the Achilles heel of transplantation. The manifestation of rejection can occur as early as intraoperatively to many years after transplant.
Low red blood cell count (anemia) Your healthcare provider may have other reasons to recommend a heart transplant. What are the risks of a heart transplant? As with any surgery, complications may occur. Potential risks of a heart transplant may include: Infection. Bleeding during or after the surgery.