These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Use of epicardial electrocardiograms for detecting cardiac allograft rejection.
    Author: Irwin ED, Bianco RW, Clack R, Grehan J, Slovut DP, Nakhleh R, Bolman RM, Shumway SJ.
    Journal: Ann Thorac Surg; 1992 Oct; 54(4):669-74; discussion 674-5. PubMed ID: 1417222.
    Abstract:
    Since the advent of cyclosporin A surface electrocardiograms have been unreliable for diagnosing cardiac allograft rejection. Although several noninvasive methods have been proposed, none have been sufficiently accurate to be considered for clinical use. We have studied the use of the QRS complex amplitude, the unipolar peak-to-peak amplitude, recorded from intramyocardial electrodes for detecting rejection. Ten adult mongrel dogs underwent placement of intramyocardial electrodes on each ventricle. After stabilization of signals the hearts were transplanted heterotopically into unmatched recipients receiving cyclosporin A, azathioprine and methylprednisolone. Endomyocardial biopsies were performed after stabilization of unipolar peak-to-peak amplitude, twice weekly thereafter, and when unipolar peak-to-peak amplitude fell significantly. This detected 13 of 14 episodes of rejection. There was one false-positive and one false-negative result. The false-negative study became positive the following day. Thus, analysis of unipolar peak-to-peak amplitude detected all episodes of rejection in a clinically relevant time frame and was able to detect mild forms of rejection and multiple episodes of rejection in the same heart even in the presence of therapeutic levels of cyclosporin A.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]