ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE GRAF TED HEART REJECTION

Comparing echocardiographic parameters with endomyocardial biopsy find ings in 6 patients with acute crises of mild, moderate, and severe gra ft rejections and in 2 patients with persistent acute rejection crisis has shown that there are decreases in end-diastolic size and left ven tricular end-diastolic ejection fraction volume, an increase in left v entricular myocardial mass, and thickening of the left ventricular pos terior wall and ventricular septum, as evidenced by ultrasonic study. Such changes are detected in moderate and severe acute crises of graft rejection. Normalization of ultrasonic parameters of the grafted hear t occurs 2-3 weeks after abolition of rejection crisis. A positive dyn amics of echocardiographic parameters in persistent acute rejection cr ises suggests a good prognosis. Echocardiographic monitoring data obta ined in the outpatient setting may serve an indication for unplanned e ndomyocardial biopsy.