ECG Features in Orthotopic Cardiac Xenotransplantation: Comparisons With Published Literature

Although there is a plethora of literature on electrocardiographic changes following cardiac allotransplantation, there is little in the field of cardiac xenotransplantation. The only published literature to date is that of the first pig-to-human cardiac xenotransplantation. Here we take a close look at the electrocardiographic parameters in four non-human primate recipients of orthotopic cardiac xenotransplantation to develop baseline metrics for comparison.

Orthotopic cardiac xenotransplantion was carried out in four non-human primate recipients. Electrocardiographic parameters were followed at various intervals using an internal hemodynamic monitoring system (DSI) as well as a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). ECG intervals were then compared to published literature on porcine ECG intervals and pig-to-human cardiac xenotransplantation.

There were no significant differences observed between timepoints for HR, PR, QRS, QT, or QTc after cardiac xenotransplantation for each animal subject. ECG parameters were statistically similar to those of in situ mini-pig hearts in the literature. ECG parameters from the DSI on average were shorter than those from a traditional ECG, however, DSI parameters were consistent over time.

These results demonstrate the possibility of conduction health for genetically engineered porcine donor hearts following cardiac xenotransplantation. Ongoing work to compare the results of an ECG in a porcine donor heart before and after implantation into a NHP is necessary to better characterize variables that may be at play in the function of the conduction system.