title: Liver transplantation does not prevent the development of life-threatening arrhythmia in familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy, Portuguese-type (ATTR Val30Met) patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is today the only available treatment to halt the progress of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP). Because heart arrhythmia and conduction disturbances are well-known manifestations of FAP, the aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and development of heart conduction and rhythm disturbances in Swedish FAP patients who underwent liver transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ambulatory 24-hour electrocardiography (ECG) recordings (Holter-ECGs) were available from 30 patients, who had been investigated before and reexamined after OLT. RESULTS.: The number of patients with abnormalities on their ECG recordings increased after OLT. Four patients developed serious arrhythmia after transplantation that necessitated the insertion of a pacemaker 40 months or longer after OLT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of cardiac conduction disturbances and arrhythmias appear not to be halted by liver transplantation, indicating that the physician should be aware of the potential risk for FAP patients receiving transplants to develop fatal arrhythmia. The follow-up after liver transplantation should include Holter-ECG recordings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Clinical Physiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hörnsten
authors.forename: Urban
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wiklund
authors.forename: Bert-Ove
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Olofsson
authors.forename: Steen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Ole B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Suhr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D028227:Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017354:Point Mutation; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000235:genetics; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D011228:Prealbumin