Analysis of Circadian Distribution of Premature Ventricular Contractions in Patients After Heart Transplantation

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Abstract
The aim of our study was to analyze circadian distribution of premature ventricular contractions (PVC) and its coupling interval (CI) in patients after orthotopic heart transplantation (HTx). Forty-two patients (5 females, 37 males) were monitored from 2 weeks to 5 years after HTx; 180 24-hour Holter ECG studies were performed. All recordings were divided into two groups: group I, within 1 month after HTX; and group II, after 1 month. Patients with more than 250 PVC/24 hours were selected for distribution of PVC and CI evaluation.Ventricular arrhythmias occur frequently in patients after heart transplantation. In patients with high Lown scale arrhythmias low occurrence (< 250/24 hours) of PVC was frequently observed (IVa: 81.8%; IVb: 84.7%). Similar patterns of circadian distribution (CD) of PVC and CD of HR in denervated heart after HTx suggest the influence of circulating catecholamines on their occurrence.