[Atrial flutter: a possible early sign of acute rejection in heart transplantation. A case report]

Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss. 2001 Jun;94(6):613-6.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The authors report the case of a cardiac transplant patient with a recurrence of atrial flutter two months after electrical cardioversion and despite long-term preventive treatment with amiodarone. Early investigation for signs of rejection with 4 endomyocardial biopsies was negative. Aggravation of the haemodynamic status due to flutter with a rapid ventricular response led to an attempted radio-frequency ablation. Endocavitary mapping confirmed persistence of sinus activity in the native atrium and the presence of a circuit of type I isthmic flutter (anticlockwise circuit) in the donor atrium. Ablation by radio-frequency in the same procedure was successful. A fifth myocardial biopsy the same day finally confirmed stage 3A acute rejection. No signs of recurrent rejection or arrhythmia have been observed after 24 months' follow-up in this patient. This preliminary experience confirms the need to look for graft rejection by repeated myocardial biopsies in cardiac transplant, patients with atrial flutter and the efficacy of radio-frequency ablation in cases of resistance to conventional therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Atrial Flutter / etiology*
  • Biopsy
  • Catheter Ablation
  • Electric Countershock
  • Graft Rejection*
  • Heart Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Recurrence