Myocardial performance index in pediatric patients after cardiac transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Myocardial performance index (MPI) has been shown to be a reliable indicator of ventricular performance. This study determined MPI values in pediatric patients after cardiac transplantation without endomyocardial rejection.


METHODS
MPI was determined in 41 pediatric patients after cardiac transplantation, without evidence of microscopic rejection, and in 31 pediatric control subjects.


RESULTS
MPI in the transplantation group (0.41 +/- 0.12) was higher than in the control group (0.31 +/- 0.09; P =.0003). Isovolumic relaxation time and isovolumic relaxation time/ejection time were higher in the transplant group (55 +/- 20 milliseconds and 0.22 +/- 0.07, respectively) compared with the control group (41 +/- 10 milliseconds and 0.16 +/- 0.06, respectively; P =.0002). Isovolumic contraction time and isovolumic contraction time/ejection time were similar in the transplant group (48 +/- 23 milliseconds and 0.19 +/- 0.09, respectively) and control group (43 +/- 21 milliseconds and 0.16 +/- 0.08, respectively; P = not significant).


CONCLUSIONS
Pediatric patients after cardiac transplantation without endomyocardial rejection have a higher MPI compared with a normative pediatric control population. The difference appears to be related to abnormal diastolic function.
Prakash
Ashwin
A
Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Hospital of New York Presbyterian and College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA. ashwinps@aol.com
Printz
Beth F
BF
Lamour
Jacqueline M
JM
Addonizio
Linda J
LJ
Glickstein
Julie S
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D012016:Reference Values; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left