Heart Transplant
More than 1,600 patients have received a new heart through the adult heart transplant program at the Smidt Heart Institute. The program has been the largest in the U.S. since 2010, and it is the flagship of the Advanced Heart Disease Program. We have made pioneering discoveries and are internationally recognized as having unique expertise in treating highly sensitized patients, amyloid patients and patients bridged from mechanical circulatory support. As a major referral center for complex patients from across the country, we offer deeply individualized care plans resulting in superior outcomes that consistently surpass government benchmarks.
Cedars-Sinai performs the most adult heart transplants in the U.S.
Conditions, Diagnostics & Treatments
We diagnose and treat a wide range of heart diseases and disorders that may lead to the need for a heart transplant.
A Patient's Guide to Heart Transplant
Learn what to expect from your heart transplant care at Cedars-Sinai. You'll find out about preparing for, receiving and recovering from your heart transplant, donor matches, medications, support groups and more.
Find answers to some commonly asked questions about heart transplant at Cedars-Sinai.
Specialty Programs
The Heart Transplant Program offers specialized expertise in emerging areas.
Desensitization Program
Specializing in the treatment of highly sensitized patients, we offer advanced strategies to successfully transplant patients with high circulating antibodies who would otherwise reject a donor heart. This includes novel therapeutic options in the pre-transplant, perioperative and post-transplant periods.
Precision Medicine Program
Precision medicine is an emerging approach for disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in genes, environment and lifestyle for each person. This approach is embraced to allow for individualized treatment strategies that optimize outcomes and quality of life.
Ex Vivo Perfusion (Heart-in-the-Box) Program
The use of ex vivo perfusion provides blood flow to a donor heart in a protected box and allows the heart to beat, extending the time that the heart can be kept outside the body while being transported. This technology has been studied at Cedars-Sinai and, once approved by the Food and Drug Administration, will expand the donor pool for our patients.
Featured Research
Targeting Inflammation and Alloimmunity in Heart Transplant Recipients with Tocilizumab
Heart transplantation is the optimal therapy for patients with irreversible, end-stage heart disease. However, long-term outcomes are limited by a broad range of host inflammatory and immune responses that occur early following transplantation. This phase 2, prospective, multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial has been designed to:
- Determine the impact of early tocilizumab treatment on heart transplant outcomes
- Investigate the effects of tocilizumab therapy on inflammatory and alloimmune responses
- Define the utility of several noninvasive biomarkers as risk assessment, diagnostic and predictive testing strategies.
For more information on this trial, please contact the study coordinator at 310-248-7129.
Clinical Trials & Research
Learn about the latest clinical trials being conducted by teams of medical researchers and doctors, aimed at making new diagnostic, medical and surgical discoveries available.
Medical Professionals & Postgraduates
Cedars-Sinai offers programs for graduate studies, continuing medical education, conferences, symposiums and other professional opportunities for learning, discovery and training.
For physician-to-physician questions or referrals call our team at 310-423-5460.
By age 29, David Brown desperately needed a heart transplant. But first, he had to wait more than a year—and be 400 miles from home.
Have Questions or Need Help?
To learn more or make an appointment, call or send a message to the Heart Transplant team. You also can have us call you back at your convenience.