Re: heart transplant

Posted By CCF Cardio MD-SGM on November 02, 1997 at 12:08:05:

In Reply to: heart transplant posted by Jan Peterson on November 01, 1997 at 10:38:09:







: I have had 7 children and a test show I have about an 80% rejection rate.  What does this mean?  Does this exclude me from having a transplant?  Does it mean I wouldn't match to begin with or that I would reject the heart L got?



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Dear Jan,
I'm assuming that you've been evaluated by a cardiac transplant center, and the issue of transplantation is being pursued.  To arrive at this point, you've likely exhausted medical therapies for severe cardiac dysfunction and have undergone extensive evaluation.  However, I will focus on your specific question regarding donor-recipient compatibility.  
Currently, matching criteria for donors and recipients include only blood group compatibility(ABO classification).  Certain blood types are more prevalent in the population, thus more easy to match with potential donors.  The converse is also true.  If a your serum displays a high degree of reactivity when screened against a panel of random donors, then prior to any transplantation your blood would be cross-matched with that of the potential donor to reduce the likelihood of acute rejection.  Again, blood group typing is the most important factor in determining the likelihood of finding a donor.  High serum reactivity could make this process more challenging and possibly extend the waiting time, but is in no way an insurmountable barrier to undergoing successful cardiac transplantation.  
Information provided in the Heart Forum is intended for general medical informational purposes only.  Specific diagnoses and therapeutic recommendations can only be provided by your personal physician.