PubMed1982
In March, 1981, a 37-year old patient underwent cardiac transplantation, the first to be performed in Germany since 1969. Subsequent to the successful procedure, the patient has now been followed for more than 19 months. The indication for the intervention was established on the basis of endstage coronary artery disease. The operation was performed according to the technique of Lower and Shumway. Immunosuppression, in the early postoperative phase, was carried out with antithymocyte globulin, azathioprine and corticosteroids with administration oriented on the T-lymphocyte and total leukocyte counts as well as analysis of myocardial biopsies. In the late postoperative course, dosage of immunosuppressive agents was based almost exclusively on biopsy findings. Within the course of immunosuppressive therapy for cardiac transplantation, in particular, initial experience was gained with the use of antithymocyte globulin which was given in dosages of up to 12 mg/kg daily. The antithymocyte globulin proved effective for more than six weeks postoperatively. The alterations in immunosuppressive treatment necessitated by two gastrointestinal complications (perforated gastric ulcer, perforation of the small intestine) enabled a comparative analysis of the results of therapy with cyclosporin A given orally, intravascularly and intravenously. The Patient continues to be maintained on a regimen of cyclosporin A and corticosteroids and his general condition is good. For future cardiac transplantations, in the early postoperative course, alternating treatment with antithymocyte globulin, azathioprine and corticosteroids, on the one hand, with cyclosporin A and corticosteroids, on the other hand, would seem meaningful both to minimize adverse reactions as well as to provide effective immunosuppression. The experience rendered would promise to facilitate management of patients after cardiac transplantation.