Prevention of Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy Using Rituximab (Rituxan) Therapy in Cardiac Transplantation

The purpose of this research study is to see if a study drug called rituximab (Rituxan®) prevents CAV. Rituximab destroys certain types of white blood cells called B cells. B cells are important cells in the immune system that help the body fight infection by producing substances called antibodies. B cells and the antibodies they produce are also involved in some kinds of rejection after organ transplantation. Rituximab decreases the number of B cells in the blood and other tissues. The goal of this study is to determine if decreasing B cells with Rituximab can prevent injury to the transplanted heart.