Cardioprotective effects of diltiazem during acute rejection on heterotopic heart transplants

In the presence of severe rejection, cardiac allograft perfusion has been shown to be impaired. Since a functionally reversible vasoconstrictor component has been identified in this condition and rejection does not reverse if ischemia does not, we hypothesized that diltiazem may be beneficial in this condition. Experiments were performed on dogs with heterotopic heart transplants and chronic instrumentation for the assessment of allograft perfusion. Two groups of cardiac allograft recipients were studied: untreated recipients and recipients treated with the calcium antagonist diltiazem (180 mg twice daily, orally). Allograft blood flow was monitored daily along with plasma diltiazem levels. The lymphoproliferative response to mitogens was studied at selected intervals until terminal rejection. Contractile function of the graft was assessed daily by palpation. Without immunosuppression, terminal rejection was observed within 7 days. Rejection was confirmed by histology; cellular infiltration and myocyte necrosis were present in all cardiac allografts but to a significantly lesser degree in diltiazem-treated recipients. The mean blood flow of heterotopically implanted hearts was in the range of 35-50 ml/min, which decreased steadily in untreated recipients. In contrast, significant improvement of allograft perfusion was observed in diltiazem-treated recipients at days 4-6 after transplantation. Diltiazem also significantly attenuated mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation at peak sensitivity (2 days after transplantation). Diltiazem plasma concentrations were in the therapeutic range (30-60 ng/ml) before and after cardiac transplantation. Results of the present study demonstrate beneficial effects of diltiazem in the course of severe cardiac rejection. Such findings support its use during rejection when maintenance of graft blood flow and myocyte protection may be important for myocardial function and viability.