Mid-term echographic evaluation of systolic function after cardiac transplantation

The aim of this study was to analyse variations in left ventricular mass (LVM) and systolic function after cardiac transplantation and to evaluate eventual changes induced by the onset of systemic hypertension (HT). In a retrospective study, we selected the echocardiographic examinations of 42 patients performed at the end of the first month (M1), sixth month (M6), and at the end of follow-up (ME) after cardiac transplantation. The patients were divided into two groups (NT: n = 14; HT: n = 28) depending on whether hypertension occurred during follow-up. The average duration of follow-up was 12.8 +/- 6 months; this was comparable in the two groups. Mild left ventricular hypertrophy was observed from the first postoperative examination: M1 = 193 +/- 50 g; M6 = 199 +/- 62 g; ME = 197 +/- 45 g (NS). The hypertrophy was constant with time and related to wall thickening; it was associated with an increased left ventricular fractional shortening (FS) which decreased with time especially in the NT group (average/42 patients: M1 = 0.38 +/- 0.09; M6 = 0.34 +/- 0.08; ME = 0.35 +/- 0.05; p = 0.03 between M1 and ME). The influence of hypertension on the development of LVH and wall thickening was negligible. The role of transplant rejection should be considered: the repetition of episodes of rejection was less marked than the histological severity of rejection. The role of other factors (ischaemia, persistent haemodynamic abnormalities) is a matter of discussion.