Biochemical and immunological studies in calves living over three months with a total artificial heart.

: Changes in serum proteins, enzymes and isoenzymes of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were compared in long-term surviving calves with a total artificial heart without influencing their central venous pressure (CVP) and calves in which CVP was lowered by antihypertensive drugs administered from day 60 to the end of the experiment. Antihypertensive drugs helped keep CVP within physiological levels for longer and aided liver function as well as evidenced by the different values for the parameters studied in the two groups.