[Precordial mapping of the R wave in the diagnosis of rejection after orthotopic heart transplantation].

In 15 patients after orthotopic transplantation of the heart the authors made repeated examinations of electromaps of the R wave and endomyocardial biopsies (TMB) during a long-term, at least one-year, investigation. In the detection of rejection EMB plays a dominating role. In three patients the authors found at the time of rejection a significant reduction of the R waves on maps, which correlated closely with the bioptic findings. It was revealed that maps of R waves are a good indicator of rejection of the transplanted heart. The examination may prove helpful when checking treatment of rejection but does not lead so far to a restriction of the number of endomyocardial biopsies of the heart.