Increased incidence of cholelithiasis in heart transplant recipients receiving cyclosporine therapy.

The introduction of cyclosporine to immunosuppressive therapy greatly improved the results of organ transplantation. The clinical use of cyclosporine, however, is associated with several serious side effects. Because the drug is primarily eliminated via biliary secretion and thus probably alters bile composition, we investigated the incidence of gallstones in 29 heart transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporine.

Anatomic characteristics and valvular function of the transplanted heart: transthoracic versus transesophageal echocardiographic findings.

In orthotopic heart transplantation atrial size and geometry are altered, whereas ventricles and atrioventricular valves remain structurally unchanged. To analyze the anatomy and function of the transplanted heart, 20 heart transplant recipients, with a mean age of 46.0 +/- 11.

The influence of rejection episodes on the development of coronary artery disease after heart transplantation.

Since 1981, 77 of 116 patients undergoing heart transplantation (HTx) have survived from 6 months to 8 years. Graft control involved a total of 871 endomyocardial biopsies (EMB) and 141 angiographies. Sixteen patients developed coronary artery disease (CAD) manifesting itself 7-60 months after HTx (20.

[Infectious endocarditis following orthotopic heart transplantation].

Infection remains a major problem in the early phase after heart transplantation. Immunosuppressive therapy is the most important predisposing factor. It may also reactivate preexisting latent endogenous infections.

[Echocardiographic diagnosis of acute graft rejection in heart transplant patients under cyclosporin therapy].

Though endomyocardial biopsy has remained the gold standard for diagnosing acute cardiac rejection (AR), this invasive method does not provide adequate means for close monitoring of the rejection process. In order to assess the usefulness of M-Mode- and two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography for the noninvasive diagnosis of AR in heart transplant recipients on cyclosporin, 45 patients (mean age 40.6 +/- 8.

[Circadian behavior of blood pressure and heart rate following orthotopic heart transplantation. Studies before and during antihypertensive therapy].

The de novo hypertension, which develops in most cardiac transplant recipients within the first postoperative months, is multicausal, though toxic side-effects of cyclosporin A seem to play a key role. In order to analyze the circadian behavior of arterial blood pressure and heart rate after cardiac transplantation (HTX) and to evaluate the effect of an antihypertensive regimen on these parameters, 24-h noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate monitoring was performed in 10 hypertensive cardiac transplant recipients on cyclosporin A (mean age 42.3 +/- 11.

[Effect of enalapril, furosemide and verapamil on cyclosporin concentration in whole blood].

Introduction of ciclosporin A into immunosuppressive therapy is considered a major progress in improving results of organ transplantation. Clinical use of ciclosporin, however, is limited by a low therapeutic index and toxic side effects. Therefore, interactions of ciclosporin with other drugs are clinically important.

New methods for noninvasive monitoring of rejection after heart transplantation.

Between August 1981 and February 1987, 67 orthotopic heart transplants and three heart-lung transplants were performed in 69 patients at the University of Munich Hospital. The immunosuppressive regimen consisted of cyclosporine A, azathioprine, and prednisone. The diagnosis of acute rejection was based on cytoimmunologic monitoring, frequency analysis of fast Fourier transformed surface electrocardiograms (FFT-ECGs), and two-dimensional echocardiography.

Clinical pharmacokinetics after a single oral dose of oxilofrine.

In a combined pharmacokinetic and clinical trial the correlation was investigated between plasma levels of oxilofrine and the haemodynamic effects on eight healthy volunteers after an oral dose of 120 mg oxilofrine. Plasma levels of free oxilofrine were measured by capillary gas chromatography mass fragmentography. Cardiovascular as well as echocardiographic parameters (left ventrical extent and velocity of fractional shortening) have been measured.

[Cardiac manifestation of progressive muscular dystrophy of the Duchenne type].

Autopsy studies have shown that cardiomyopathy of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by fibrosis of the posterobasal and contiguous lateral wall of the left ventricle. This study was designed to determine whether stress testing would improve the sensitivity of echocardiography to detect secondary impairment of regional myocardial function. 12 patients aged 5 to 23 years with DMD were investigated.

[Comparative studies on the cardiodepressant effect of disopyramide, mexiletine and propafenon].

The effect of clinical antiarrhythmic doses of disopyramide (Di), mexiletine (Me), and propafenon (Pr) on cardiac function was studied in 7 normal volunteers by M-mode echocardiography and the extent of functional changes caused by the three drugs was compared. For each of the substances echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular function were determined before injection, 5-25 min. after an intravenous administration (Di 2.

[The effect of disopyramide of left ventricular function: an echocardiographic study of the extent and time course (author's transl)].

Seven healthy volunteers were evaluated for changes in left ventricular function after a therapeutic intravenous dose of Disopyramide (2 mg/kg, maximum 150 mg given over 5 min) and, subsequently, under oral maintenance therapy (200 mg every 6 h for 3 days). Parameters of left ventricular function were determined by Echocardiography. Measurements were taken before injection, 5--25 min after intravenous Disopyramide in intervals of 5 min and 120 min after the last oral dose of the drug.