Lipid profiles of patients with a transplanted heart before and after the operation.
BACKGROUND
Graft coronary artery disease, a serious problem after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT), has multifactorial etiologies with dyslipidemia as one of the major risk factors. In this study we examined lipid profiles and drug therapy of our patients before and after OHT.


METHODS
Thirteen patients who underwent OHT at our center were enrolled in the study. We noted the patients' clinical and demographic data and current medications as well as pre- and postoperative lipid values.


RESULTS
The mean age of the study group was 32.0 +/- 13.2 years with three women. Compared to the preoperative values, significant increases were detected in the mean levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (81.3 +/- 29.1 vs 103.5 +/- 22.2 mg/dL; P = .03) and total cholesterol (142.0 +/- 58.5 vs 184.0 +/- 37.8 mg/dL; P = .02), while triglyceride (113.5 +/- 67.3 vs 137.0 +/- 69.9 mg/dL; P = .1) and high-density lipoprotein (42.7 +/- 10.2 vs 48.7 +/- 14.4 mg/dL; P = .2) levels did not change significantly at 2 to 3 months postoperatively. On follow-up eight patients were prescribed a statin (atorvastatin in all), one of whom was on ezetimibe in addition to statin and one, fenofibrate. The patients tolerated lipid-lowering agents well; no significant side effect was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrated increased lipid values, mainly in total cholesterol and LDL levels, after OHT. Regarding the importance of dyslipidemia as a major atherosclerotic risk factor, we believe that statins in the absence of a contraindication should be part of the treatment protocol in patients with a transplanted heart.
Bozbas
H
H
Department of Cardiology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. hbozbas@gmail.com
Altin
C
C
Yildirir
A
A
Sade
E
E
Gulmez
O
O
Gultekin
B
B
Sezgin
A
A
Muderrisoglu
H
H
D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D002784:Cholesterol; D003402:Creatine Kinase