Pretransplant malignancy as a risk factor for posttransplant malignancy after heart transplantation.

Background: Posttransplant malignancy is a major cause of death in orthotopic heart transplant recipients. Our study objective is to identify whether pretransplant malignancy increases the risk for posttransplant malignancy.

Methods: Using the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network/United Network for Organ Sharing database, adult (≥18 years old) recipients of a primary orthotopic heart transplant performed between 2000 and 2012 were included.