HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sethi, G. K. Articles by Copeland, J. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sethi, G. K. Articles by Copeland, J. G.

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 104, 90-93, Copyright © 1992 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association

ARTICLES

Futility of yearly heart biopsies in patients undergoing heart transplantation

GK Sethi, LJ Rosado, M McCarthy, SS Butman and JG Copeland
Division of Cardiovascular, University of Arizona, Tucson 85724.

Three hundred thirty-eight endomyocardial biopsies, performed as part of the routine annual evaluation at 1 or more years after transplantation in 211 patients, were reviewed. In only two instances (0.6%) were the histologic findings suggestive, but not pathognomonic, of acute rejection. Both patients were treated for rejection and are doing well at 4 and 6 years postoperatively. On the basis of the results of this study, we believe that routine yearly heart biopsies in asymptomatic patients are not necessary for long-term care of patients after heart transplantation, and we believe they should be performed only if there is clinical suspicion of rejection or as part of a research protocol.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. J. Flippin, D. T. Balzer, P. R. Murphy, S. E. Ruble, E. N. Mendeloff, C. B. Huddleston, and C. E. Canter Rejection with heart failure after pediatric cardiac transplantation Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 1999; 68(1): 176 - 180. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. A. Heimansohn, R. J. Robison, J. M. Paris III, R. G. Matheny, J. Bogdon, and C. J. Shaar Routine Surveillance Endomyocardial Biopsy: Late Rejection After Heart Transplantation Ann. Thorac. Surg., November 1, 1997; 64(5): 1231 - 1236. [Abstract] [Full Text]