Heart Transplant Conditions, Diagnostics & Treatments

In the post-transplant world, we can now not only detect antibodies, but also assess their quantity and ability to cause harm through special testing available at Cedars-Sinai. We have premiere immunology labs that can support our program in guiding therapy for patients with antibody problems.

• Anti-rejection medications (immunosuppression): In general, we employ three types of immunosuppressive agents: tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofitil and steroids. This triple-drug regimen helps to prevent rejection of the donor heart and is initiated at the time of transplantation. For patients who are highly sensitized or who have a kidney issue, we may utilize induction therapy with ATG, given in the first few days post-transplant, to help maintain kidney function and further prevent rejection. We also routinely utilize statins in our heart transplant patients. We have pioneered research demonstrating that statins, a cholesterol-lowering medication, also have anti-rejection properties. In our program, rejection rates are down to 5%. 
• Desensitization treatments: We are the largest desensitization center in the country with the ability to treat and manage highly sensitized patients successfully to transplant. We have an array of treatments to reduce antibodies including IVIG, rituximab, alemtuzumab, bortezomib, eculizumab and tocilizumab for select cases. 
  
• Other treatments: Prophylactic antibiotics are also employed routinely in the perioperative period and after transplant to prevent viruses and bacterial infections.