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European Journal of Heart Failure 2002 4(2):175-179; doi:10.1016/S1388-9842(02)00007-7
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© 2002 European Society of Cardiology

Lactic acidosis following heart transplantation: a common phenomenon?

Paul Mohacsia,1,*, Giovanni Pedrazzinia,1, Hildegard Tannera, Hans-Ueli Tschanza, Roger Hullina and Thierry Carrelb

a Cardiology, Swiss Cardiovascular Center Bern University Hospital (Inselspital), CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland
b Cardiovascular Surgery, Swiss Cardiovascular Center Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +41-31-632-4464; fax: +41-31-632-4299. E-mail address: paul.mohacsi{at}insel.ch


  Abstract

Background: Lactic acidosis (LAc) is a common form of metabolic acidosis early after heart transplantation (HTX). The mechanism remains unclear. This study analyzed 13 patients who developed severe LAc after HTX.

Methods: From a series of 60 consecutive heart transplant patients, we identified 13 patients with LAc in the first hours following HTX. Nine patients with normal or mildly elevated lactate levels (<5.0 mmol/l) were investigated as controls.

Results: Thirteen patients developed a moderate or severe LAc (up to 14.6 mmol/l) after HTX. Serum lactate levels increased immediately following surgery with a peak after 6.3±1.4 h, spontaneously returning to normal values within 24 h. In contrast to the control group, a significant correlation was found between the maximal serum lactate level and the maximal dosage of inotropic drugs (r=0.93, P<0.02), administered during the reperfusion phase and continued for 12–24 h postoperatively. No correlation was found between LAc and blood gas analysis during extracorporeal perfusion period.

Conclusion: LAc can occur after HTX and seems to be related to the inotropic support of the graft. In contrast to other forms, LAc after HTX has an excellent prognosis and resolves rapidly and spontaneously without treatment. The fact that inotropic support during and immediately after cardiac transplantation can enhance preexisting severe peripheral metabolic cellular dysfunction remains hypothetical.

Key Words: Cardiac transplantation • Lactic acidosis • Inotropic support

Received April 16, 2001; Revised August 1, 2001; Accepted October 23, 2001

1 Paul Mohacsi and Giovanni Pedrazzini contributed in equal parts to this study.


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