Paroxysmal atrioventricular block after heart transplantation in children: an early sign of rejection?

Giorgia Grutter; Sara Alfieri; Giulio Calcagni; Maria Assunta Castelluzzo; Massimo Stefano Silvetti; Francesco Parisi; Fabrizio Drago

doi:10.1111/petr.12832

Paroxysmal atrioventricular block after heart transplantation in children: an early sign of rejection?

Pediatr Transplant. 2016 Dec;20(8):1164-1167. doi: 10.1111/petr.12832. Epub 2016 Oct 14.

Authors

Giorgia Grutter¹, Sara Alfieri², Giulio Calcagni¹, Maria Assunta Castelluzzo², Massimo Stefano Silvetti¹, Francesco Parisi², Fabrizio Drago¹

Affiliations

¹ Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Arrhythmias-Syncope Unit, Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and Research Institute, Rome, Italy.
² Thoracic Transplant Unit, Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and Research Institute, Rome, Italy.

PMID: 27743416
DOI: 10.1111/petr.12832

Abstract

In OHT recipients, pathologic evaluation of the heart during acute rejection can show involvement of both the conduction system and the myocardium. We here describe the cases of a 9-year-old male with DCM and a 13-year-old female with RCM, who developed third-degree PAVB associated with acute rejection 36 months and 24 months after OHT, respectively. We conclude that PAVB could be considered an early sign of acute rejection after OHT in children who exhibit post-transplantation presyncope or syncope.

Keywords: atrioventricular block; heart transplantation; pediatric age; rejection.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Atrioventricular Block*
Child
Echocardiography
Female
Graft Rejection / diagnosis*
Heart Transplantation / adverse effects*
Humans
Male
Myocardium / pathology
Postoperative Complications
Syncope / complications
Treatment Outcome