Sensitization in Heart Transplantation: Emerging Knowledge: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

American Heart Association Heart Failure and Transplantation Committee of the Council on Clinical Cardiology; Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; and Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

84 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sensitization, defined as the presence of circulating antibodies, presents challenges for heart transplant recipients and physicians. When present, sensitization can limit a transplantation candidate's access to organs, prolong wait time, and, in some cases, exclude the candidate from heart transplantation altogether. The management of sensitization is not yet standardized, and current therapies have not yielded consistent results. Although current strategies involve antibody suppression and removal with intravenous immunoglobulin, plasmapheresis, and antibody therapy, newer strategies with more specific targets are being investigated.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)e553-e578
JournalCirculation
Volume139
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 19 2019

Keywords

  • AHA Scientific Statements
  • antibodies
  • heart transplantation
  • human leukocyte antigen

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Physiology (medical)

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