title: Timing of recipient atrial contraction: a major determinant of transmitral diastolic flow in orthotopic cardiac transplantation.
abstract: The effect of recipient left atrial contraction on diastolic transmitral flow was studied in eight asymptomatic heart transplant patients (seven men and one woman, mean age 51.8 +/- 9.7 years) with normal left ventricular systolic function. The transmitral flow velocity profile was evaluated in 326 beats (mean 40.8 +/- 12 beats, range 20 to 58 beats/patient). Recipient left atrial contraction was classified as early diastolic, late diastolic, and systolic. Results showed: (1) early diastolic transmitral flow velocity integral (in centimeters) was lower (p < 0.05) following late diastolic recipient left atrial contractions (7.5 +/- 2.1) compared with early diastolic (10.1 +/- 2.7) or systolic (8.5 +/- 1.5) recipient left atrial contractions; (2) late diastolic transmitral flow velocity integral was higher following late diastolic (4.7 +/- 1.8) compared with systolic (4.1 +/- 1.9) recipient left atrial contractions and was virtually abolished (0.45 +/- 14) following early diastolic recipient left atrial contractions; and (3) total diastolic transmitral flow velocity integral was significantly higher (p < 0.05) following late diastolic and systolic (12.2 +/- 2.8 and 12.0 +/- 2.5) compared with early diastolic left atrial contractions (10.5 +/- 2.8). Thus recipient left atrial contraction is a significant determinant of the transmitral diastolic flow pattern in heart transplant patients. Variations in the timing of recipient left atrial contraction may lead to fluctuations of diastolic flow and may compromise cardiac output.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Triposkiadis
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Starling
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sparks
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Myerowitz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boudoulas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016275:Atrial Function; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006339:Heart Rate; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*