HEART-TRANSPLANTATION IN PATIENTS WITH TREATED BREAST-CARCINOMA

Since 1987, five women with end-stage cardiomyopathy and a history of treated breast carcinoma have undergone transplantation at our institu tion. All patients underwent extensive multidisciplinary pretransplant ation evaluation to rule out metastatic disease. Disease-free interval before heart transplantation ranged from 5 to 11 years (mean, 7.6 yea rs). All patients received immunosuppression in accordance with a stan dard protocol of rabbit antithymocyte globulin, cyclosporine, predniso ne, and azathioprine. Mean postoperative follow-up is 49 months. All p atients are alive and have no symptoms 18 to 73 months after transplan tation. In carefully selected patients with a history of breast carcin oma, heart transplantation can be performed with good functional resul ts and satisfactory late survival.