Background: The need for continued surveillance endomyocardial biopsies beyond the first year after cardiac transplantation is controversial. We evaluated the incidence of rejections requiring treatment (International Society Heart and Lung Transplantation grade 3A or greater) in patients 5 years or more after heart transplantation VSports手机版. .

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent at least 1 endomyocardial biopsy at our center 5 years or more after heart transplantation V体育安卓版. .

Results: A total of 461 biopsies were performed in 77 patients 5 or more years after heart transplantation. Nine episodes of grade 3A or greater rejection were identified in 8 of 77 patients (10%). During the first year, 7 V体育ios版. 6% of biopsies were grade 3A or greater. Grade 3A rejection occurred in approximately 3. 5% to 4% of biopsies during years 2 to 7. The overall incidence of procedural related complications at our institution was < 0. 5%. .

Conclusion: Endomyocardial biopsies continue to detect clinically significant rejection beyond 5 years after cardiac transplantation. The overall incidence of procedural related complications requiring treatment was low and none was life threatening. The absence of early rejection does not predict freedom from late rejection VSports最新版本. Therefore, we continue to recommend surveillance biopsies in cardiac transplant recipients late after transplantation. .