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Myocardial catecholamine content after heart transplantation.
V Regitz1, C Bossaller, R Strasser
1German Heart Institute, Berlin.
Circulation
|August 1, 1990
Summary
Myocardial catecholamine levels are undetectable in most heart transplant recipients, even years after surgery. This suggests the adrenergic response relies on plasma levels or receptor density, not intrinsic catecholamines.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Transplantation immunology
- Neuropharmacology
Background:
- Myocardial catecholamine levels are crucial for cardiac function.
- These levels have not been previously characterized in human heart transplants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine myocardial catecholamine (norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine) levels in heart transplant recipients.
- To compare these levels with those in healthy individuals.
Main Methods:
- Endomyocardial biopsies were obtained from 19 short-term and 5 long-term heart transplant patients.
- Catecholamine concentrations were measured using a sensitive assay and compared to 10 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Catecholamines were undetectable in 17/19 short-term and all 5 long-term heart transplant patients.
- Detectable levels in two patients were significantly lower than in controls.
- Most patients showed undetectable myocardial catecholamines up to five years post-transplant.
Conclusions:
- Transplanted human hearts typically lack detectable myocardial catecholamines.
- The adrenergic response in transplanted hearts may depend on plasma catecholamine concentrations or cardiac beta-receptor density.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of adrenergic regulation in cardiac allografts.