Rejection of a transplanted heart


Find out about rejection, the risk of getting it and how it’s treated

Key points

  • Rejection is when your immune system starts to attack your transplanted heart because it recognises the heart as coming from a different person
  • To help prevent rejection, you will be given immunosuppressant medicines, which lower your immune system’s response
  • Rejection can still occur even if you’re taking all of your medicines
  • If rejection is picked up early it can usually be treated successfully. Severe rejection is rare

Answers to common rejection questions

More information



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