Analysis of circadian distribution of premature ventricular contractions in patients after heart transplantation.
The aim of our study was to analyze circadian distribution of premature ventricular contractions (PVC) and its coupling interval (CI) in patients after orthotopic heart transplantation (HTx). Forty-two patients (5 females, 37 males) were monitored from 2 weeks to 5 years after HTx; 180 24-hour Holter ECG studies were performed. All recordings were divided into two groups: group I, within 1 month after HTX; and group II, after 1 month. Patients with more than 250 PVC/24 hours were selected for distribution of PVC and CI evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
Ventricular arrhythmias occur frequently in patients after heart transplantation. In patients with high Lown scale arrhythmias low occurrence (< 250/24 hours) of PVC was frequently observed (IVa: 81.8%; IVb: 84.7%). Similar patterns of circadian distribution (CD) of PVC and CD of HR in denervated heart after HTx suggest the influence of circulating catecholamines on their occurrence.
Pietrucha
A
A
Department of Coronary Disease, Medical School of Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland.
Matysek
J
J
Piwowarska
W
W
Mroczek-Czernecka
D
D
Gackowski
A
A
Stobierska
B
B
Nessler
J
J
Musiałek
P
P
Dziatkowiak
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged