Understanding Chronic Heart Rejection: Causes, Symptoms & Management

Chronic heart rejection, also known as chronic allograft rejection, is the long-term rejection of a transplanted heart by the recipient's immune system. It is a serious complication of heart transplantation and can lead to heart failure and the need for re-transplantation.

Chronic heart rejection is caused by a combination of factors, including the recipient's immune response to the transplanted heart, the use of immunosuppressive drugs, and the development of coronary artery disease in the transplanted heart.

Symptoms of chronic heart rejection can include:

- Shortness of breath

- Fatigue

- Weakness

- Chest pain

- Swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet

- Rapid or irregular heartbeat

- High blood pressure

Chronic heart rejection is diagnosed with a variety of tests, including:

- Echocardiogram

- Cardiac catheterization

- Biopsy of the transplanted heart

Treatment for chronic heart rejection includes:

- Increasing the dose of immunosuppressive drugs

- Adding new immunosuppressive drugs

- Treating coronary artery disease in the transplanted heart

- Re-transplantation

Chronic heart rejection is a serious complication of heart transplantation, but it can often be managed with treatment. With careful monitoring and management, many people who experience chronic heart rejection can live long and healthy lives.