Good news in the offing for hypertensive heart transplant recipient?

Heart transplant recipient with hypertension may have something to look forward to in the future with respect to prevention of a continuous rise in blood pressure and deterioration of renal function often occurs in them. The answer may lie with omega 3 fatty acids.

 According to the European heart journal 2001 (22: 428-436), a study of 45 hypertensive heart transplant recipients was conducted at the university of Oslo in Norway. They found that compared to the placebo, omega-3 fatty acids protected patients against significant increases in blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance and worsening of plasma cretonne and the Glomerular filtration rate. A bonus omega-3 fatty acid treatment also may lower serum triglycerides

Left Ventricular Assist System to rescue again

It is called the Arrow Lion Heart Left Ventricular Assist System and it hold out promises for patient with congestive heart failure who are not good candidates for a transplant. The device has so far been implanted in 2 persons in USA. The first implant was performed in February 2001, on a 65- years old patient at Penn State’s Mitton S Hershey Medical center. The patient remained hospitalized (as of may 2001) but has apparently shown steady progress, going outside and beginning physical therapy.

The second implant was performed in April 2001 on Norman Paul, a retired bricklayer and carpenter from New Jersey at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. It took surgeons 5 hours to implant the 3.2 pound mechanical device into the patient’s chest. According to Dr. Michael A Acker, the cardiothoracic surgeon, the patient was in fair condition and was eating and walking. He also said that about a dozen patients had received the implants in Germany in the past 18 months. Although three or four had died, it was not because of device failure or stroke.

The Lion Heart was developed by Penn State University’s Medical School and Arrow International Inc. of Reading. It has no lines or cables protruding through the skin to power it, giving patients greater freedom of movement. It has a wearable battery pack that transmits power through the skin to charge internal batteries. The external pack can be removed for a half- hour at a time for the patient to swim or take a shower.

 If the Lion Heart proves to be safe and effective, patients with heart failure can take heart again.