Induction therapy in heart transplantation

Survival after heart transplantation (HTx) has improved considerably over the past 20 years. Half of all patients now live more than 13 years, and approximately more than 25% live more than 20 years. The long-term results of cardiac transplantation have continued to improve due to improved peri-operative care and immunosuppression regimens. The risk for acute rejection is highest early after HTx and therefore many transplant centers use a strategy of peri-operative induction therapy in order to provide a rapid and effective protection against acute allograft rejection (1,2).