Heart transplantation. Four years' experience with conventional immunosuppression

Abstract

Four years'' experience with heart transplantation using conventional immunosuppression [with azathioprine, antithymocyte globulin, methylprednisolone or prednisone] is described. Of 32 patients, 20 are alive. The 1-yr survival rates were 75% (1979), 67% (1980) and 75% (1981). Actuarial survival rates for operative survivors were 70% at 1 yr, 60% at 2 yr and 51% at 3 yr. Patients in the 50- to 55-yr age group have survived as well as younger recipients. Rejection resulted in 6 deaths, infection in 3, donor heart failure in 2 and multiple organ failure in 1. There were 1.5 acute rejections/patient and 1 infection/patient in the first 3-posttransplant mo. Postoperative hospital stay averaged 62 days and cost a total of $58,351.