Table 4. Contraindications for cardiac transplantation.

Contraindications	Descriptions
Age	Age of 70 years or older can be a relative contraindication depending on the underlying disease.
Obesity	Cardiac transplantation is recommended to patients with BMI ≤30 kg/m2, and most centers perform cardiac transplantation in patients with BMI ≤35 kg/m2*.
Cancer	Active cancer is an absolute contraindication. Transplantation can be discussed for patients with treatable low-grade cancer or treated cancer after consulting an oncologist.
Pulmonary hypertension	Pulmonary vascular resistance of 3 wood units or higher despite the use of vasodilators and pressors is a contraindication for cardiac surgery. These patients can be re-evaluated after trying a VAD.
Diabetes mellitus	Uncontrolled diabetes and relevant organ injury constitute an absolute contraindication for transplantation.
Renal dysfunction	Renal dysfunction related to diabetes is an absolute contraindication for transplantation (in such cases, consider simultaneous heart-kidney transplantation).
Hepatic cirrhosis	Hepatic cirrhosis caused by heart problems is an absolute contraindication for transplantation (in such case, consider simultaneous heart-liver transplantation).
Peripheral vascular anomaly	Lesions for which a bypass or recanalization is impossible are an absolute contraindication for cardiac transplant.
Infection	Active infection, HIV, and hepatitis C are contraindications in most institutions, but with the introduction of hepatitis C medications, some institutions still perform cardiac transplantation in such patients.
Drug abuse	Six months of abstinence from smoking and alcohol is required, and consultation with neuropsychiatry is advised for drug abusers.
Psychosocial problem	Patients with low medication adherence, who have no family to provide care, and who have dementia are absolute contraindications. Physical disability is a relative contraindication.

BMI = body mass index; HIV = human immunodeficiency virus; VAD = ventricular assist device.