Immunosuppression and Endomyocardial Biopsies: Immediately after a transplant patients receive high doses of anti-rejection medicines (Cyclosporine or Tacrolimus, Mycophenolate or Azathioprine, and Prednisone). Over the first few months these medicines are weaned down gradually. Because rejection may have few or no symptoms, heart biopsies are done weekly for the first 6-8 weeks and then less often to monitor for rejection and guide immunosuppression.

Long Term Health Issues after a Heart Transplant: Long term immunosuppression puts patients at higher than usual risk of infections and malignancies. Patients and their local physicians must always watch for signs of serious infection and be vigilant about routine cancer screenings. Other complications that occur after transplant are hypertension and renal insufficiency (poor kidney function) associated with chronic cyclosporine/tacrolimus exposure. Post-transplant coronary artery disease may also develop in the transplanted heart. In spite of these issues, most transplant recipients live satisfying lives.