523: Higher Rates of Co-Morbidities Post Cardiac Retransplantation Contribute to Decreased Survival

Selection of Cardiac Transplantation Candidates in 2010

“…Nonetheless, retransplantation is associated with a greater rate of comorbidities such as infections and malignancies from the heightened immunosuppression that negatively affects long-term survival. 86 From available data, a working group on heart retransplantation 87 concluded that retransplantation should be considered only in patients with chronic graft dysfunction. However, these guidelines remain vague, and although HF, arrhythmias, and angina identify transplant vasculopathy at the highest risk, the timing of retransplantation for a long-term transplant survivor with 3-vessel coronary artery disease, prior stenting, and normal left ventricular function remains unclear.…”