Subject Recruitment

Measurement of cytokine levels in post-cardiac transplant patients with unexplained graft dysfunction.

Inclusion Criteria:

Group 1

• 18 years and older
• Cardiac Transplant recipient with graft dysfunction of unknown etiology

Group 2

• 18 years or older
• No history of heart failure or cardiac transplantation Group 3
• 18 years or older
• Class II-IV heart failure Group 4
• 18 years or older
• Heart Transplant 6 months or greater prior to blood draw
• No graft dysfunction

Exclusion Criteria:

Group 1 Heart Transplant with Unexplained Graft Dysfunction

• Cellular or antibody-mediated cardiac allograft dysfunction

Group 2 Normal Control group

• Active infection within 1 month of blood draw
• Known Inflammatory Disease

Group 3 Heart Failure Group

• Active infection within 1 month of blood draw
• Known Inflammatory Disease

Group 4 Heart Transplant with Normal Graft Function Group

• Active infection within 1 month of blood draw
• Known graft dysfunction
• Known Inflammatory Disease

Cardiology Clinic and inpatient service. Normal controls are volunteers from within the community.