HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): David C. McGiffin Robert B. Karp Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by McGiffin, D. C. Articles by Ceballos, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by McGiffin, D. C. Articles by Ceballos, R.

Ann Thorac Surg 1984;37:382-386
© 1984 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Articles

Results of Radionuclide Assessment of Cardiac Function Following Transplantation of the Heart

Departments of Surgery, Nuclear Medicine, and Pathology, University of Alabama in Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

Accepted for publication October 28, 1983.

^* Address reprint requests to Dr. Karp, Professor of Surgery, University of Alabama Medical Center, University Station, Birmingham, AL 35294

Radionuclide assessment of ejection fraction was determined early and late postoperatively following cardiac transplantation in 16 patients. In 11 patients, ejection fraction was determined within 48 hours of an endocardial biopsy. There was no relationship between the severity of histologically evident rejection and the ejection fraction (Pearson correlation coefficient [r] = – 0.11; p = 0.47). In 2 patients, severe graft fibrosis developed with consequent diminution in ejection fraction. There was no relationship between severity and duration of rejection or the amount of immunosuppression required to treat acute rejection and the development of graft fibrosis. The mean resting ejection fraction in 7 patients in follow-up ranging from 6 to 21 months after transplantation was 0.59 ± 0.06 (standard deviation), and the mean exercise ejection fraction in 6 of these patients was 0.72 ± 0.08. Radionuclide-determined ejection fraction is not predictive of rejection early after operation. During short-term late follow-up, systolic left ventricular function at rest and exercise has been retained at normal levels.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. F. Bolling, J. B. Putnam Jr, G. D. Abrams, A. M. McKay, and G. M. Deeb Hemodynamics versus biopsy findings during cardiac transplant rejection Ann. Thorac. Surg., January 1, 1991; 51(1): 52 - 55. [Abstract] [PDF]