Heart transplantation in ischemic heart disease when recipients are older than 55 years and donors older than 50

The purpose of this article is to analyze patients affected with ischemic cardiomyopathy, older than 55 years, who have undergone heart transplantation. We conducted a retrospective analysis comparing clinical course and outcome in patients whose donor age was ≥ 50 years (Group A) with patients who had younger donor heart (Group B). Group A was composed of 25 patients, 55 to 68 years old (27.4% of the patients), 20 males and 5 females; Group B was composed of 68 patients, 55 to 66 years old, 65 males and 3 females. Mean donor age in Group A was 54.7 years old (range 51-61), while in Group B it was 29.5 years old (range 9-49). Operative mortality was 16% (4 cases) and 12% in Group B (8 cases) p = ns. Total mortality in Group A was 24%, or 6 cases: 2 graft failures, 1 infection, 1 neoplasm, 1 multiorgan failure, 1 ischemic heart disease; in Group B it was 27%, or 18 cases: 2 cerebrovascular accidents, 4 graft failures, 3 infections, 5 neoplasms, 3 multiorgan failures, 1 acute rejection, p = ns. Coronarography was performed in 51 patients, 14 in Group A (10 cases normal, 3 with irregularities, and 1 case with a critical stenosis of the circumflex artery; 37 in Group B (32 cases were normal, 3 had irregularities and 2 had critical stenosis in a coronary artery). In conclusion, we emphasize that extending donor age in recipients older than 55 years of age does not determine a higher risk and mortality.