ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS OF MYOCY TES DURING REJECTION AFTER HEART-TRANSPLANTATION

During rejection after heart transplantation an impairment of metaboli c-independent ionic currents occurs early (ISHLT grade 2) with prolong ed action potential duration (type I cells) or limited maximal upstrok e velocity (type II cells). The ongoing rejection (ISHLT grade 3a/b) l eads to a restriction of the cell metabolism with a consecutive breakd own of the resting membrane potential (type III cells). All 3 stages o f functional impairment (type I-III) are reversible and occur simultan eously during moderate rejection (ISHLT 3a/b).