Heart muscle and plasma vitamin Q with heart transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
To study variations in heart muscle septum and plasma vitamin Q (Q, ubiquinone, n = 9) and plasma vitamin E (E, alpha-tocopherol, n = 4) in heart transplant patients.


METHODS
Right-sided heart septum biopsies and plasma samples were routinely saved in patients (eight males and one female, aged 48 +/- 6 years [mean +/- SEM], range 19 to 58). Observation time was one to 35 months involving one to 10 examinations.


RESULTS
Average heart and plasma Q were 0.33 +/- 0.04 mg/g, range 0.06 to 0.58, and 0.65 +/- 0.10 mg/L, range 0.20 to 1.08, respectively. Corresponding values for those with only plasma E analyzed were 0.39 +/- 0.03 mg/g and 0.70 +/- 0.10 mg/L, respectively. Plasma E averaged 7.7 +/- 1.7 mg/L, range 4.6 to 11.3. There were no differences between patients in stable condition and healthy persons in heart and plasma Q, whereas plasma E corresponded to only 64% of the mean in healthy persons. On an individual level a relationship was present between heart and plasma Q. For high plasma Q, heart Q appeared to be saturated. In four patients, from whom plasma samples were taken close to a fatal complication, plasma Q averaged 0.42 mg/L (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Well controlled heart transplant patients had normal heart and plasma Q, whereas plasma E was depressed. Muscle and plasma Q became depressed, particularly with rejection episodes and/or infections.
Karlsson
J
J
OBLA AB, Vaxholm, Sweden.
Semb
B
B
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D013997:Time Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism; D014815:Vitamins / Q000378:metabolism*
D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014815:Vitamins; D014810:Vitamin E; C010524:vitamin Q; D002784:Cholesterol