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Review
. 2018 Jul;48(7):565-590.
doi: 10.4070/kcj.2018.0189.

The Past, Present and Future of Heart Transplantation

In Cheol Kim #  1 , Jong Chan Youn #  2 , Jon A Kobashigawa  3
Affiliations
Review

The Past, Present and Future of Heart Transplantation

In Cheol Kim et al. Korean Circ J. 2018 Jul.

Abstract

Heart transplantation (HTx) has become standard treatment for selected patients with end-stage heart failure. Improvements in immunosuppressant, donor procurement, surgical techniques, and post-HTx care have resulted in a substantial decrease in acute allograft rejection, which had previously significantly limited survival of HTx recipients. However, limitations to long-term allograft survival exist, including rejection, infection, coronary allograft vasculopathy, and malignancy. Careful balance of immunosuppressive therapy and vigilant surveillance for complications can further improve long-term outcomes of HTx recipients.

Keywords: Current practice; Forecasting; Heart failure; Heart transplantation; History.

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Conflict of interest statement

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Number of HTx (adult and pediatric) by year and geographic region.
HTx = heart transplantation.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Current status of HTx and risk modification strategy.
AMR = antibody-mediated rejection; HTx = heart transplantation; MCS = mechanical circulatory support; PGD = primary graft dysfunction.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Temporal trends in HTx in Korea after 2000.
HTx = heart transplantation.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Balanced HTx listing strategy.
HTx = heart transplantation.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Physiology of the transplanted heart. Blue arrow indicates blockage of the nerve fibers, red arrow indicates remained effect of circulatory catecholamines.
HR = heart rate; SA = sinoatrial.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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