Differences in Baseline Immunophenotype in Pediatric Cardiac Transplant Evaluation: How Informed Reductions in Immunosuppression can Improve Patient Outcomes

Lifelong multi-drug immunosuppression is essential in pediatric cardiac transplant with regimens varying between pediatric centers. Current data suggests pre-transplant immunologic phenotype differences may predispose patients to over-immunosuppression. At our tertiary care center, targeted reduction of immunosuppression has recently become common practice despite limited published data. We hypothesize that individualized reduction of immunosuppression in pediatric cardiac transplant patients based on baseline immunophenotype will lead to improved outcomes post-transplant.