Heart Transplant Rejection
Heart Transplant Rejection: What Causes It?
A heart transplant, also known as a cardiac transplant, is a procedure in which a person’s failing heart is replaced with a healthy donor heart. Unfortunately, even with a successful transplant, the body will sometimes reject the new heart, which is known as a heart transplant rejection.
When a heart transplant is performed, the immune system of the recipient perceives the donor’s heart as a foreign body and launches an attack to protect the body. This attack is known as an immune response. A heart transplant rejection occurs when this immune response is too strong and the recipient’s body starts to attack the new heart.
Heart transplant rejection can occur at any time after the transplant, but it is most common during the first six months. Typically, rejection is detected through blood tests or through symptoms like fever, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness, and reduced exercise tolerance.
Causes of Heart Transplant Rejection
The following are some of the most common factors that can lead to a heart transplant rejection:
- Immunosuppressant drugs not working properly.
- Scheduled immunosuppressant drug doses being missed.
- Infections that interfere with immunosuppressant drugs.
- Injury to the transplanted heart.
- Blood incompatibility.
- A reaction to the preservatives used in the organ.
- Lack of communication between the patient and their medical team.
It is impossible to completely prevent heart transplant rejection, but it can be managed with medications and lifestyle changes. If you have received a heart transplant, make sure to follow all your doctor’s instructions to help reduce the risk of rejection.