Cellular rejection of the conduction system after orthotopic heart transplantation for congenital atrioventricular block

J Heart Lung Transplant. 2006 Nov;25(11):1371-5. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2006.08.002. Epub 2006 Oct 5.

Abstract

We report a case of severe acute cellular rejection of the cardiac allograft conduction system in a 15-month-old girl who received orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) for congestive heart failure from a congenital heart block. Post-operatively, the patient was treated for clinical evidence of rejection, but did not have electrocardiographic findings of heart block. Six weeks after transplantation, the patient developed sudden-onset bradycardia and died. Autopsy showed severe acute cellular rejection involving primarily the conduction system. Cellular rejection of the cardiac conduction system is a potentially lethal complication of OHT. Although diagnostic modalities to predict or detect ongoing cellular rejection in the conduction system are limited, recognizing the early signs, such as post-operative heart block, may prevent devastating consequences.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bradycardia / etiology
  • Electrocardiography
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Graft Rejection / etiology
  • Graft Rejection / pathology*
  • Heart Block / pathology
  • Heart Block / physiopathology
  • Heart Block / surgery*
  • Heart Conduction System / cytology
  • Heart Conduction System / pathology*
  • Heart Conduction System / physiopathology
  • Heart Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Heart Transplantation / pathology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Transplantation, Homologous