Cardiac Allograft Rejection

Cardiac allograft rejection occurs when the body's immune system detects a transplanted heart as foreign and attacks it. After a heart transplant, the recipient's body may recognize the new heart's cells as different, triggering a response to eliminate it. This can lead to inflammation and damage in the heart. There are two main types of rejection: acute, which can happen soon after surgery, and chronic, which develops over time. To prevent rejection, transplant recipients must take immunosuppressive medications that help the body tolerate the new heart without attacking it. Regular monitoring is essential to ensure the heart remains healthy.