ABO-Incompatible Heart Transplantation in Infants

Abstract
Transplantation of hearts from ABO-incompatible donors is contraindicated because of the risk of hyperacute rejection mediated by preformed antibodies in the recipient to blood-group antigens of the donor. This contraindication may not apply to newborn infants, who do not yet produce antibodies to T-cell–independent antigens, including the major blood-group antigens.