Vasoconstriction in patients after heart transplantation

We have the values of rest and maximal blood flow and of venous compliance in the forearm in three groups of patients: those undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation, those with severe cardiac insufficiency, and a control group. The findings suggest the presence of arteriolo- as well as venoconstriction in transplanted patients. This, however, was less pronounced than in the patients with heart failure. Neither the values of maximal blood flow nor those of minimal peripheral resistance in the forearm obtained after a 5-minute ischaemic insult differed significantly between the patients after heart transplantation and the controls. Thus, arteriolar constriction can be removed by this insult in patients after transplantation.