Genetic Testing for Heart Transplant Rejection

Breann Wusterbarth fell sick in February with what appeared to be a cold and ear infection. Within a week, the 20-month-old was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. A month later, a Berlin Heart ventricle assist device was implanted while Breann and her family waited for a donor heart. Yesterday, Breann received her new heart. Fortunately, 80% of heart transplant recipients are alive two years after operation and if transplant (graft) rejection can be avoided, many patients are alive well after 10 years.

One method of determining whether a patient’s immune system is accepting the new heart is through the use of a gene expression profiling (GEP) test created by AlloMap. It’s currently available for patients over 15 years old, two months post-surgery. More information on organ transplantation at Genetics and Health.

Best wishes to Brea for a speedy recovery! Send your well wishes at Brea’s guestbook.

NB: Try your hand performing a heart transplant at the virtual NOVA operating theatre.

Tags: breann wusterbarth, dilated cardiomyopathy, heart, heart disease, heart transplant, transplants, organ transplant, allomap, diseases, illness, health, medicine