Myocardial performance index in pediatric patients after cardiac transplantation.

Overview

BACKGROUND: Myocardial performance index (MPI) has been shown to be a reliable indicator of ventricular performance. This study determined MPI values in pediatric patients after cardiac transplantation without endomyocardial rejection. METHODS: MPI was determined in 41 pediatric patients after cardiac transplantation, without evidence of microscopic rejection, and in 31 pediatric control subjects. RESULTS: MPI in the transplantation group (0.41 +/- 0.12) was higher than in the control group (0.31 +/- 0.09; P =.0003). Isovolumic relaxation time and isovolumic relaxation time/ejection time were higher in the transplant group (55 +/- 20 milliseconds and 0.22 +/- 0.07, respectively) compared with the control group (41 +/- 10 milliseconds and 0.16 +/- 0.06, respectively; P =.0002). Isovolumic contraction time and isovolumic contraction time/ejection time were similar in the transplant group (48 +/- 23 milliseconds and 0.19 +/- 0.09, respectively) and control group (43 +/- 21 milliseconds and 0.16 +/- 0.08, respectively; P = not significant). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients after cardiac transplantation without endomyocardial rejection have a higher MPI compared with a normative pediatric control population. The difference appears to be related to abnormal diastolic function.