title: Impact of cardiac transplantation in 24 hours circadian blood pressure and heart rate profile.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate 24 hours blood pressure (BP) and heart rate changes as well as 24-hour circadian BP rhythm of cardiac transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five transplant recipients and twenty-five healthy volunteers underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring. Parameters of 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (24-h/daytime/nightime systolic, diastolic BP, pulse pressure, and heart rate) were determined in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinic systolic/diastolic BP, mean 24-h systolic/diastolic BP, mean daytime systolic/diastolic BP, mean nighttime systolic/diastolic BP, and mean 24-h/daytime/nighttime heart rate were significantly higher in transplant recipients than in control group subjects. Standard deviations of 24-h/daytime/nighttime heart rates were significantly lower in transplant recipients. Dippers were 48% of the control and only 12% of the transplantation group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiac transplant recipients had increased ambulatory BP. They also had increased 24-h/daytime/nighttime heart rate and decreased heart rate variability. Also, diminished nocturnal decrease of BP was found in transplant recipients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodestrial University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: V T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Kotsis
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Stabouli
authors.forename: V Ch
authors.initials: VCh
authors.lastname: Pitiriga
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lekakis
authors.forename: I N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Nanas
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Toumanidis
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Zakopoulos
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003971:Diastole; D006339:Heart Rate; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D013599:Systole