What are the indications for heart transplantation?

Who Can Have a Heart Transplant?

  • Cardiomyopathy (with class II or IV congestive heart failure)
  • Class IV angina (on medical therapy not amenable to revascularization despite evidence of ischemia on stress test)
  • Non-obstructive hypertrophic heart disease.
  • Severe decompensated inoperable valvular heart disease.

Why do heart transplant patients take prednisone?

Prednisone is similar to the steroid hormone that the body produces naturally. It may be given along with other immunosuppressive medications to prevent and treat organ rejection following an organ transplant.

Do heart transplant patients need immunosuppressant drugs?

You will need to take immune suppressant medicines to reduce the risk of heart rejection. The doses of these medicines usually reduce over time, but some immunosuppressant medicines will be needed for the lifetime of the heart transplant.

What immunosuppressants are used for heart transplant?

Maintenance immunosuppressive regimens generally consist of a regimen of a calcineurin inhibitor (cyclosporin or tacrolimus) and an antiproliferative agent (mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine). Prednisone is started in high doses early after transplantation and gradually is tapered to 0 to 5 mg QD by 6 months.

Which condition is an absolute contraindication for cardiac transplantation?

Absolute Contraindications Major systemic disease. Age inappropriateness (70 years of age) Cancer in the last 5 years except localized skin (not melanoma) or stage I breast or prostate. Active smoker (less than 6 months since quitting)

What ejection fraction is indicated for heart transplantation?

Candidates for cardiac transplantation generally present with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III (moderate) symptoms or class IV (severe) symptoms. Evaluation demonstrates ejection fractions of less than 25%. Attempts are made to stabilize the cardiac condition while the evaluation process is undertaken.

Why are glucocorticoids used in transplant patients?

Glucocorticoids were one of the first classes of medications used to prevent rejection after solid organ transplantation. Two specific medications, methylprednisolone and prednisone are used frequently as part of the immunosuppressive regimen.

Which is more potent prednisone or prednisolone?

Prednisolone and prednisone doses are equivalent in a milligram to milligram comparison. In other words, 5 mg of prednisolone is as strong as 5 mg of prednisone.

Do beta blockers work on heart transplant?

In recent years, however, some evidence has shown that even in cardiac transplanted patients, β-blockers are useful and effective in the treatment of sinus tachycardia, supraventricular and ventricular tachyarrhythmias, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and arterial hypertension.

What are three main types of anti rejection drugs?

Tacrolimus (Prograf) Cyclosporine (Neoral) Mycophenolate Mofetil (CellCept)

What medication is given after a heart transplant?

After your transplant surgery you will be prescribed medications that may include: Tacrolimus (Prograf) or cyclosporine (Neoral, Gengraf) Prednisone. Mycophenolate (CellCept, Myfortic) or azathioprine (Imuran)

How long do you take immunosuppressants after heart transplant?

Medications After a Transplant. After an organ transplant, you will need to take immunosuppressant (anti-rejection) drugs. These drugs help prevent your immune system from attacking (“rejecting”) the donor organ. Typically, they must be taken for the lifetime of your transplanted organ.