Impact of Donor Left Ventricular Hypertrophy on Survival After Heart Transplant

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) of the donor heart is believed to increase the risk of allograft failure after transplant. However this effect is not well quantified, with variable findings from single‐center studies. The United Network for Organ Sharing database was used to analyze the effect of donor LVH on recipient survival. Three cohorts, selected in accordance with the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines, were examined: recipients of allografts without LVH (55 years, and in recipients of allografts with LVH and ischemic time ≥4 h. In the contemporary era, close to half of all transplanted allografts demonstrate LVH, and survival of these recipients is similar to those without LVH. However, the use of allografts with LVH in association with other high‐risk characteristics may result in increased mortality. This study demonstrates that the survival of heart transplant recipients of allografts with left ventricular hypertrophy is similar to those without left ventricular hypertrophy, with the exception of recipients of allografts with left ventricular hypertrophy in association with other high‐risk characteristics, in whom an excess mortality is observed.