Many ISHLT recommendations are based on expert consensus, and not on randomized controlled clinical trials, and there are also gaps in evidence pertaining to many aspects of patient care. The ISHLT expects an increased awareness of these gaps in evidence will spur further research in many important areas of heart transplantation.

"There is great potential to further advance care of heart transplant recipients using these new standards of management," said James K. Kirklin, MD, ISHLT President.  "We expect these guidelines to help improve patients' outcomes and raise awareness about the areas where more research is needed."

An overview of the recommendations provided in the new guidelines will be presented during today's symposium and the executive summary will be published later by the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation.  The full document will be available as an ISHLT monograph in early 2011.

SOURCE International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation