Transplantation of the Human Heart

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Abstract
Until recently cardiac transplantation in man was considered to be primarily investigational and of limited practical value in treatment of heart disease. Four seriously ill and incapacitated patients underwent cardiac transplantation with restoration of adequate cardiac function and circulation in each. Two patients are alive and apparently well 6 weeks and 3 1/2 weeks, respectively, after operation. Donor-recipient blood and tissue compatibilities were studied and considered acceptable. Donors all suffered from brain injury, either blunt or penetrating, and one had a spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage. Immunosuppressive agents consisted of corticosteroids, azathioprine, and antilymphocytic globulin (ALG). No unequivocal evidence of threatened rejection has appeared in any patient, and in the longer survivors, convalescence was unremarkable. This experience suggests that human cardiac transplantation is feasible and deserves further clinical trial.

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