Risk of rejection in heart transplant

Q: All of the following tends to increase the risk of acute rejection after heart transplant except?

A) Older recipient 
B) Female recipient 
C) Female donor 
D) Afro-American recipient 
E) Degree of HLA mismatches


Answer:  A

Contrary to popular belief younger people between age 30 and 60 tend to have more risk of rejection. This is probably due to their robust immune system. As body see the transplanted heart as a foreign object and tends to react more vigorously. 

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#cardiology


References:

1. Kubo SH, Naftel DC, Mills RM Jr, et al. Risk factors for late recurrent rejection after heart transplantation: a multiinstitutional, multivariable analysis. Cardiac Transplant Research Database Group. J Heart Lung Transplant 1995; 14:409. 

2. Kobashigawa JA, Kirklin JK, Naftel DC, et al. Pretransplantation risk factors for acute rejection after heart transplantation: a multiinstitutional study. The Transplant Cardiologists Research Database Group. J Heart Lung Transplant 1993; 12:355. 

3. Jarcho J, Naftel DC, Shroyer TW, et al. Influence of HLA mismatch on rejection after heart transplantation: a multiinstitutional study. The Cardiac Transplant Research Database Group. J Heart Lung Transplant 1994; 13:583.