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Title: Prediction of acute cardiac rejection by changes in left ventricular volumes

Journal Article · · J. of Heart Transplant.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6499444

Sixteen patients underwent heart transplantation (11 orthotopic, five heterotopic). Monitoring for acute rejection was by both endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) and multigated equilibrium blood pool scanning with technetium 99m-labelled red blood cells. From the scans information was obtained on left ventricular volumes (stroke, end-diastolic, and end-systolic), ejection fraction, and heart rate. Studies (208) were made in the 16 patients. There was a highly significant correlation between the reduction in stroke volume and end-diastolic volume (and a less significant correlation in end-systolic volume) and increasing acute rejection seen on EMB. Heart rate and ejection fraction did not correlate with the development of acute rejection. Correlation of a combination of changes in stroke volume and end-diastolic volume with EMB showed a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 96%. Radionuclide scanning is therefore a useful noninvasive tool for monitoring acute rejection.

Research Organization:
Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town (South Africa)
OSTI ID:
6499444
Journal Information:
J. of Heart Transplant.; (United States), Vol. 7:6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English