Episode 2: Evolution of ABO Incompatible Heart Transplant In The Flow: Conversations with Pioneers in Pediatric Heart Failure

Dr. Lori West is Professor in the Depts. of Pediatrics, Surgery, Medical Microbiology/Immunology and Laboratory Medicine/Pathology at the University of Alberta and a pioneer in the field of ABO incompatible heart transplantation in infants. In 2001 West reported the first ever series of 10 infants who received ABO-incompatible heart transplantation (ABOi HTx) in the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada.

Dr. Simon Urschel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at University of Alberta and the Clinical Director of the Pediatric Cardiac Transplant Program at Stollery Children’s Hospital. He has led the recent clinical efforts to focus on exploring the limits and boundaries and long term outcomes in these patients from large patient registries.

Transplantation of hearts from ABO-incompatible donors is contraindicated because of the risk of hyperacute rejection mediated by preformed antibodies in the recipient to blood-group antigens of the donor. Let’s listen to our two experts as to why this contraindication may not apply to newborn infants and how this field of ABOi heart transplantation has evolved.

Please check the ISHLT History Project : https://ishlt.org/about-ishlt/history-archives