title: Prevalence and outcome of diastolic dysfunction in liver transplantation recipients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCMP) denotes a chronic cardiac dysfunction in cirrhotic patients. It is characterized by systolic (SD) and diastolic dysfunction (DD), and electromechanical abnormalities, in the absence of other cardiac diseases. Liver transplantation (LTx) has a favourable effect on CCMP, but CCMP is in itself a risk factor. Aims of the study were (1) to estimate the prevalence of DD among LTx candidates, (2) to compare outcome between patients with and without DD, and (3) to determine if tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a predictor of post-transplantation outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  173 LTx recipients were retrospectively evaluated. Diagnostic criteria for SD and DD were a resting ejection fraction < 55% and an E/A ratio < 1 or a deceleration time > 200 msec on echocardiography, respectively, according to the criteria proposed during the World Congress of Gastroenterology in Montreal, 2005. The difference in outcome between patients with and without DD was evaluated in terms of mortality and cardiovascular complications post-transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SD and DD were diagnosed in 3 (2%) and 74 (43%) patients, respectively. Patients with DD had significantly older age (P < 0.0001). Regarding outcome, no statistically significant difference could be documented. Moderate/severe TR is, in contrast to no or mild TR, associated with worse posttransplantation outcome (P = 0.01 short-term, P = 0.02 long-term).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study population, a prevalence of SD and DD of 2% and 43%, respectively, was registered. Outcome does not seem to be strongly affected by the presence of DD. Tricuspid regurgitation severity on echocardiography is predictive of survival.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raevens
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Pauw
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geerts
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berrevoet
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Rogiers
authors.forename: Roberto I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Troisi
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Vlierberghe
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Colle
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003971:Diastole; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018754:Ventricular Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology