Heart transplant rejection occurs when the immune system attacks the donor heart, and regular monitoring is necessary to detect signs of rejection. Patients must take immunosuppressant drugs and make lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of rejection, but about 20% of patients still die within two years.
A heart transplant rejection occurs when a patient’s immune system recognizes a donor heart as a foreign body and attacks it. It is considered one of the most serious complications of a heart transplant, as rejection can prove fatal if left undetected. Doctors work to prevent heart transplant rejection through thorough testing before surgery and by prescribing drugs that suppress the patient’s immune system. Regular diagnostic tests, such as X-rays and heart biopsies, allow doctors to monitor for signs of rejection. Despite these measures, about 20 percent of heart transplant patients die within two years due to organ transplant rejection or other complications.
Before the heart transplant procedure, a patient undergoes a rigorous screening process to determine whether or not surgery is the best option. In addition to assessing the patient’s emotional and psychological capacity for the operation, doctors test the compatibility of her and the donor’s blood type. The blood is also tested for certain antibodies that could lead to heart transplant rejection. Depending on the urgency of the situation, preparing for a heart transplant can take anywhere from several days to several weeks. If the patient is released, he can continue with the procedure.
After the surgery, the patient will need to undergo periodic tests with their doctor. For the first 12 to 12 months he will need to have monthly heart biopsies to check for any signs of rejection. These procedures may be combined with x-rays for confirmation.
Your doctor will also be on the lookout for different signs of heart transplant rejection, such as high fever, abnormal blood pressure levels, and poor healing. Other symptoms of heart transplant rejection include chest pains, difficulty breathing, and unexplained fatigue. Any of these signs of rejection need to be taken seriously, as any form of organ transplant rejection can be fatal if left unattended. Regular monitoring of these symptoms should continue even after the first 12 months.
The patient will also need to make several lifelong changes to his new heart. Aside from heart-friendly lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and reducing alcohol intake, he will need to take immunosuppressant medications on a regular basis. These drugs weaken the immune system, reducing the risk of heart transplant rejection. Since these drugs suppress the immune system, the patient will also need to pay close attention to maintaining his overall health. This involves regular exercise, proper nutrition, and reducing the stressors in her life.
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