Research on heart transplants discussed by T. Kovacevicpreradovic and co-researchers
December 29th, 2008
2008 DEC 29 -- In this recently published article, scientists in Zurich, Switzerland conducted a study "To determine the prevalence of isolated left ventricular noncompaction (IVNC) as a cause of heart failure and heart transplantation. There were 960 patients seen in the heart failure clinic from 1987 to 2005, with a complete evaluation including echocardiography at our center (study population, 82% men, mean age 52 years)."
"The following data were collected: type of heart disease, age at echocardiography and at heart transplantation, and frequency of heart transplantation. Echocardiographic diagnosis of IVNC was based on our published criteria. The etiologies of heart failure were coronary artery disease (CAD; 37%), idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (33%), valvular heart disease (11%), congenital heart disease (5%), IVNC (3%), hypertensive heart disease ( 3%), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (2%), myocarditis (1%), and < 1% other diagnoses. Heart transplantation was performed in 253 patients (26%) due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (42%), CAD (39%), valvular heart disease ( 5%), congenital heart disease ( 5%), IVNC (2%), or other etiologies (<= 1% each)," wrote T. Kovacevicpreradovic and colleagues.
The researchers concluded: "The most common causes for heart failure remain idiopathic'."
Kovacevicpreradovic and colleagues published their study in Cardiology (Isolated Left Ventricular Noncompaction as a Cause for Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation: A Single Center Experience. Cardiology, 2009;112(2):158-164).
For more information, contact C.H.A. Jost, Klin Pk, Cardiovascular Center Zurich, Seestr 220, CH-8027 Zurich, Switzerland.
Publisher contact information for the journal Cardiology is: Karger, Allschwilerstrasse 10, CH-4009 Basel, Switzerland.
