REDISTRIBUTION OF AMIODARONE IN HEART-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS TREATED WITH THE DRUG BEFORE OPERATION

Seven heart transplant recipients (six men and one woman) treated with oral amiodarone 194 +/- 100 mg/day before operation for a period of 3 0 +/- 48.5 months were studied. The myocardial concentrations of amiod arone in the transplanted heart peaked in the second posttransplantati on week (87.6 +/- 80.7 mu g/g myocardial tissue) and remained detectab le in the twelfth week (10.2 +/- 8.4 mu g/g myocardial tissue). The ra tio of myocardial/plasma concentrations peaked at the end of the sixth posttransplantation week. In conclusion, amiodarone accumulated rapid ly in the transplanted myocardium of heart transplant recipients treat ed with the drug before operation and remained detectable for at least 3 months.