Current expectations in cardiac transplantation
Baumgartner, W.A.; Reitz, B.A.; Bieber, C.P.; Oyer, P.E.; Shumway, N.E.; Stinson, E.B.
Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 75(4): 525-530
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-5223 PMID: 347177 Document Number: 125271
One hundred thirty cardiac transplant procedures were performed at Stanford University -rosette formation. Depression to less than 10% of normal occurs within 6 days. Subsequent rejection episodes are heralded by exponential T-cell rises 1 to 3 days before abnormal graft biopsy. This assay detects early efferent immune response and permits earlier and more efficient immunosuppression. Two indications for retransplantation exist: intractable recurrent rejection and accelerated graft atherosclerosis. Five patients have undergone graft replacement, 3 successfully. These advances contributed to present survival rates of 66, 63 and 58%, 1, 2 and 3 yr after transplantation (90% rehabilitation).