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Research Article Free access | 10.1172/JCI115185

Evidence for regional catecholamine uptake and storage sites in the transplanted human heart by positron emission tomography.

M Schwaiger, G D Hutchins, V Kalff, K Rosenspire, M S Haka, S Mallette, G M Deeb, G D Abrams, and D Wieland

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0028.

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Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0028.

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Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0028.

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Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0028.

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Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0028.

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Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0028.

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Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0028.

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Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0028.

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Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0028.

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Published May 1, 1991 - More info

Published in Volume 87, Issue 5 on May 1, 1991
J Clin Invest. 1991;87(5):1681–1690. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI115185.
© 1991 The American Society for Clinical Investigation
Published May 1, 1991 - Version history
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Abstract

Positron emission tomography in combination with the newly introduced catecholamine analogue [11C]hydroxyephedrine ([11C]HED) enables the noninvasive delineation of sympathetic nerve terminals of the heart. To address the ongoing controversy over possible reinnervation of the human transplant, 5 healthy control subjects and 11 patients were studied after cardiac transplant by this imaging approach. Regional [11C]HED retention was compared to regional blood flow as assessed by rubidium-82. Transplant patients were divided into two groups. Group I had recent (less than 1 yr, 4.4 +/- 2.3 mo) surgery, while group II patients underwent cardiac transplantation more than 2 yr before imaging (3.5 +/- 1.3 yr). [11C]HED retention paralleled blood flow in normals, but was homogeneously reduced in group I. In contrast, group II patients revealed heterogeneous [11C]HED retention, with increased uptake in the proximal anterior and septal wall. Quantitative evaluation of [11C]HED retention revealed a 70% reduction in group I and 59% reduction in group II patients (P less than 0.001). In group II patients, [11C]HED retention reached 60% of normal in the proximal anterior wall. These data suggest the presence of neuronal tissue in the transplanted human heart, which may reflect regional sympathetic reinnervation.

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