Mutations in GLUT2, the gene for the liver-type glucose transporter, in patients with Fanconi-Bickel syndrome.

Fanconi-Bickel syndrome (FBS) is a rare autosomal-recessive inborn error of metabolism characterized by hepatorenal glycogen accumulation, Fanconi nephropathy and impaired utilization of glucose and galactose. To date, no underlying enzymatic defect in carbohydrate metabolism has been identified. Therefore, and because of the impairment of both glucose and galactose metabolism, a primary defect of monosaccharide transport across membranes has been suggested. Here we report mutations in the gene encoding the facilitative glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) in three FBS families, including the original patient described in 1949 by Fanconi and Bickel. Homozygous mutations were found in affected individuals, whereas all parents tested were heterozygous for the respective mutation. Because all detected mutations (delta T446-449, C1251T and C1405T) predict truncated translation products that cannot be expected to have functional monosaccharide transport activity, GLUT2 mutations are probably the cause of FBS.

Belatacept and Eculizumab for Treatment of Calcineurin Inhibitor-induced Thrombotic Microangiopathy After Kidney Transplantation: Case Report.

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) after kidney transplantation is an uncommon and challenging cause of graft dysfunction and is associated with early graft loss. An idiosyncratic endothelial reaction to calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) has been implicated as a frequent cause of TMA. This reaction is marked by uncontrolled activation of complement and subsequent cellular destruction. Usual therapy consists of withdrawal of the inciting drug and plasmapheresis to minimize levels of circulating complement. Recently, eculizumab, a monoclonal antibody to complement component C5, has been used for the treatment of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. Belatacept, an inhibitor of T cell costimulatory protein CTLA-4 has been used in immunosuppression strategies aimed at minimization of CNI. Here we report the first case of treatment of CNI-associated TMA/hemolytic uremic syndrome with withdrawal of tacrolimus and initiation of both belatacept and eculizumab. The case describes a favorable clinical course for both graft and patient, and is accompanied by a review of the literature.

Monitoring of chimerism after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation with unmanipulated marrow by use of DNA polymorphisms.

Highly polymorphic tandemly repetitive DNA sequences provide powerful genetic markers for the identification of individuals by restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) even in close relatives. Over a three-year period, 61 consecutive patients from a single institution undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for various hematological diseases were grafted with unmanipulated marrow and followed for the development of hematopoietic chimerism. Three synthetic oligonucleotide probes homologous to the so-called minisatellite or variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) sequences were evaluated in the clinical setting of BMT for their usefulness: (i) to document marrow engraftment or rejection; (ii) to elucidate the kinetics of mixed chimerism; and (iii) in providing a sensitive tool for early detection of relapse. In addition, in patients with CML karyotyping and analysis of bcr/abl gene rearrangement was performed. Using this panel of three oligonucleotide probes, informative markers specific for donor or recipient RFLP could be demonstrated in all cases. Engraftment could be documented in all patients surviving beyond day +14 after BMT. Mixed chimerism was detected in 14% of the patients in the early phase (day +14 to day +78) after BMT but only one patient turned out to become a long-term stable mixed chimera. These results support the hypothesis that lymphocytes of recipient origin surviving the conditioning regimen may considerably contribute to mixed chimerism early after BMT. Long-term stable mixed chimerism is a rare event after BMT with unmanipulated marrow. Simultaneous analysis of chimerism after BMT by VNTR-RFLP, karyotyping, and detection of bcr/abl rearrangement in patients with CML showed corresponding results in nine out of 12 patients. In three patients either one of the methods failed to detect residual recipient cells in the early phase after BMT. Therefore different methods for assessment of mixed chimerism seem to complement rather than to exclude each other. Eleven patients who all exhibited complete chimerism early after BMT relapsed from their underlying disease. In seven of these patients grafted for acute leukemia, analysis of DNA-RFLP had been performed shortly before clinical relapse (30-86 days) and failed to herald relapse. As the sensitivity for the detection of the minor cell population by analysis of DNA-RFLPs is approximately 1%, these data may indicate that relapse of acute leukemia after BMT is characterized by a sudden increase in the percentage of recipient blast cells not detectable even by frequent RFLP analyses.

Remission of juvenile chronic myeloid leukemia following graft failure of an unrelated marrow transplant and autologous recovery of marrow function promoted by GM-CSF and IL-3.

The unusual course of a boy with juvenile chronic myeloid leukaemia is presented. After bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from an unrelated donor followed by graft failure and subsequent stimulation by rhu GM-CFC and II-3, this patient experienced complete recovery of autologous haematopoiesis. At 17 months post-BMT the patient was off any therapy with completely normal blood counts and no signs of disease.

Fanconi-Bickel syndrome--a congenital defect of facilitative glucose transport.

Fanconi-Bickel syndrome (FBS, OMIM 227810) is a rare type of glycogen storage disease (GSD). It is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations within GLUT2, the gene encoding the most important facilitative glucose transporter in hepatocytes, pancreatic beta-cells, enterocytes, and renal tubular cells. To date, 112 patients have been reported in the literature. Most patients have the typical combination of clinical symptoms: hepatomegaly secondary to glycogen accumulation, glucose and galactose intolerance, fasting hypoglycemia, a characteristic tubular nephropathy, and severely stunted growth. In 63 patients, mutation analysis has revealed a total of 34 different GLUT2 mutations with none of them being particularly frequent. No specific therapy is available for FBS patients. Symptomatic treatment is directed towards a stabilization of glucose homeostasis and compensation for renal losses of various solutes. In addition to the clinical and molecular genetic aspects of FBS, this review discusses the pathophysiology of the disease and compares it to recent findings in GLUT2 deficient transgenic animals. An overview is also provided on recently discovered members of the rapidly growing family of facilitative glucose transporters, which are novel candidates for congenital disorders of carbohydrate metabolism.

Molecular analysis in glycogen storage disease 1 non-A: DHPLC detection of the highly prevalent exon 8 mutations of the G6PT1 gene in German patients.

We investigated the molecular basis of glycogen storage disease type 1 non-A (GSD1 non-A) in 21patients. In addition to 8 novel mutations within the G6PT1 gene (c.250T>A, c.580G>A, c.627C>T, c.653-4delAG, c. 844C>A, c.1071A>C, c.1268G>A, c.1348G>A), we found a remarkably high prevalence of exon 8 mutations in German patients. The c.1211-2delCT mutation and the c.1184G>T mutation accounted for 32% and 29% of mutant chromosomes, respectively, supporting the hypothesis of a Middle European origin of these two mutations. Together with less common mutations, 79% of German GSD1 non-A patients were either homozygous or heterozygous for an exon 8 mutation. In addition to direct sequencing, these exon8 mutations could be detected by mutation-specific methods such as the detection of heteroduplex formation on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or by the amplification of DNA segments by allele-specific oligonucleotides. Furthermore, the use of denaturating high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) allowed a 100% detection and discrimination of all exon 8 mutations. In conclusion from these results, we recommend the use of either conventional or DHPLC screening as the initial non-invasive and efficient diagnostic procedure in patients with GSD1 non-A from populations with a similar distribution of mutations. Hum Mutat 16:177, 2000.

Molecular genetic basis and prevalence of glycogen storage disease type IIIA in the Faroe Islands.

Glycogen storage disease type IIIA (GSD IIIA) is caused by mutations of the amyloglucosidase gene (AGL). For most populations, none of the AGL mutations described to date is particularly frequent. In this paper, we report that six children with GSD IIIA from the Faroe Islands were found to be homozygous for the novel nonsense mutation c.1222C>T (R408X) of the AGL gene. This mutation is easily detected by restriction enzyme digest with NsiI after mismatch PCR. Investigating five intragenic polymorphisms, we could show that this mutation was always associated with the same haplotype. The c.1222C>T mutation could be detected on two chromosomes of another 50 unselected GSD IIIA patients of other European or North American origin which means that this mutation plays a minor role worldwide. From the fact that we are currently aware of a total of 14 GSD IIIA cases in the Faroese population of 45 000, the observed prevalence is 1 : 3100. While the novel AGL mutation c.1222C>T was not detectable among 198 German newborns, nine out of 272 children from the Faroese neonatal screening program were found to be heterozygous for this mutation. Thus, the calculated prevalence is 1 : 3600 (95% CI 1:700-1:6400). We conclude that due to a founder effect, the Faroe Islands have the highest prevalence of GSD IIIA world-wide. The detection of the molecular defect has facilitated the diagnosis and has offered the opportunity for prenatal diagnosis in this patient group.

Natural history of body mass index in Williams-Beuren syndrome.

Body mass index (BMI) is a useful tool for the investigation of obesity or underweight. It follows a typical pattern throughout childhood. During the first few years of life underweight due to feeding problems and gastrointestinal disturbances is considered a common sign in Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS), whereas obesity is frequently reported in WBS adults. Systematic studies on weight gain and body mass index in WBS do not exist. Therefore, we studied weight gain relative to height expressed as BMI in 82 WBS girls (459 measurements of weight and height) and in 104 WBS boys (562 measurements). At birth BMI was significant lower in WBS than in normal infants in both sexes (P < 0.0001). During the first months of life, mean BMI showed a catch-up from the 3rd to the 10th-50th centiles in WBS infants relative to the normal standards. The further course of BMI was almost parallel to normal development. In addition, a gradual relative increase to the 50th centile of normal was seen in both sexes. In conclusion, weight gain during the first year of life was sufficient. Feeding and gastrointestinal problems seem not to have a severe impact on weight gain in infancy. Until adulthood weight relative to height continuously reached the 50th centile of normal. Thus, obesity is not a common finding in young adults with WBS. The results of this study may serve as a disease-specific reference of BMI development in WBS patients.

Lissencephaly, abnormal lymph nodes, and T-cell deficiency in one patient.

We report on a child with lissencephaly type I, abnormal lymph nodes, and immunodeficiency, associated with recurrent infections, autoimmune disease, spastic tetraplegia, and psychomotor retardation. Diagnostic measures included cranial computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning, several in vivo and in vitro immunological tests, and histology of skin, lymph nodes, and liver including electron microscopy and immunohistology. Despite medical supervision, the child died at age 4 years. A common pathogenetic mechanism of defective migration of neurons and the dysmaturation of lymph nodes is most probable. The T-cell deficiency may represent a common defect of the development of both neuronal and lymphatic tissue, as the six-layered cerebral cortex and the B-cell areas in lymph nodes develop at about the same gestational age. A common defect could also be assumed involving genetically determined cell surface proteins.

Successful stimulation of autologous bone marrow recovery by GM-CSF and IL-3 after an unrelated donor BMT for juvenile CML complicated by graft failure.

We report the case of a boy with juvenile chronic myeloid leukemia (jCML), who after initial treatment with interferon alpha-2 (IFN) and hydroxyurea underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from a matched unrelated donor complicated by graft failure. Subsequent stimulation of hematopoiesis by GM-CSF and IL-3 promoted autologous recovery. In contrast to the course of disease pre-BMT, the boy is now off any therapy remaining in complete remission more than 500 days after BMT.

Fractionated total body irradiation plus high-dose VP-16 prior to allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in children with poor risk acute leukaemias.

Nineteen children (median age, 13 years; range 4 to 18 years) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (ALL) (10 patients) or acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANNL) (9 patients) received allogeneic bone marrow transplants (BMT). Marrow was taken from HLA-identical sibling donors (16 patients) (pts), HLA-identical unrelated donor (1 pt), or one-antigen-missmatched sibling donor (1 pt). Preparatory regimen consisted of fractionated total body irradiation and high-dose VP-16 (50-70 mg/kg body weight). At the time of BMT nine of the pts were not in complete remission (CR): seven pts were refractory to aggressive multiagent chemotherapy and two pts were in first relapse. Six pts were in second CR, one pt in third CR; three pts grafted in first CR carried additional risk factors; e.g. induction failure. Ten out of the nineteen pts are alive and free of disease between one and 53 months (median, 28 months) after BMT. The actuarial disease-free survival rate is 37% for pts with ANLL and 54% for pts with ALL. Six pts have died from BMT-related complications. Only three pts (1 pt with ALL, 2 pts with ANLL) have relapsed between day +106 and day +134 after BMT and subsequently died. The four-year actuarial relapse rates of 29% for ANLL and 14% for ALL, respectively, demonstrate that the combination of fractionated total body irradiation and high-dose VP-16 is an effective antileucemic regimen for children with advanced leukemias.

Stem cell factor influences neuro-immune interactions: the response of mast cells to pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide is altered by stem cell factor.

Mast cells degranulation can be elicited by a number of biologically important neuropeptides, but the mechanisms involved in mast cell-neuropeptide interactions have not been fully elucidated. Stem cell factor (SCF), also known as c-kit or kit ligand, induces multiple effects on mast cells, including proliferation, differentiation, maturation, and prevents apoptosis. We investigated the ability of SCF to affect mast cell responsiveness to the neuropeptides pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). PACAP 1-27, PACAP1-38, or VIP failed to induced preformed mediator release from mouse bone-marrow-cultured mast cells (BMCMC) derived in concanavalin A-stimulated spleen conditioned medium (CM). By contrast, BMCMC grown in SCF-containing medium or freshly isolated peritoneal mast cells exhibited significant 3H-hydroxytrypamine (5-HT) release in response to PACAP peptides or VIP. Deoxyglucose and the mitochondrial inhibitor antimycin significantly inhibited PACAP-induced 5-HT release indicating that the central event induced by PACAP peptides was exocytosis. The G(alpha)i inhibitor, pertussis toxin, significantly diminished PACAP-induced 5-HT release from BMCMCs in SCF suggesting the involvement of heterotrimeric G-proteins. Western blot analysis using antibodies directed against the human VIP type I/PACAP type II receptor demonstrated a 70-72 kD immunoreactive protein expressed in greater amounts in BMCMC grown in SCF compared with BMCMC in CM. We conclude that SCF induces a mast cell population that is responsive to PACAPs and VIP involving a heterotrimeric G-protein-dependent mechanism.

Diagnosis of Pompe's disease using leukocyte preparations. Kinetic and immunological studies of 1,4-alpha-glucosidase in human fetal and adult tissues and cultured cells.

Kinetic and immunological studies of 1,4-alpha-glucosidase show that the distribution of acid, renal and neutral alpha-glucosidase at pH 4.0 and 6.5 is as follows: in liver and cultured fibroblasts and amniotic fluid cells the activity at pH 4.0 is mainly due to the acid enzyme. Even at pH 6.5, the activity is largely due to the residual activity of the acid enzyme. In kidney and leukocytes, however, the activity by acid enzyme at pH 4.0 represents only 30-60% of the total activity and the remaining activity is from renal enzyme. At pH 6.5, the activity is almost exclusively of renal enzyme. Renal alpha-glucosidase has a higher affinity for maltose (Km, 0.8 mmol/l) than acid enzyme, however; for glycogen acid enzyme shows the highest affinity (20.7 g/l). There is no significant difference in the kinetic characteristics of alpha-glucosidase between fetal and adult tissues. In kidney, however, a relative increase in renal enzyme to acid enzyme with age is found, i.e. in fetal kidney the alpha-glucosidase activity at pH 4.0 is more than twice that at pH 6.5, whereas in adult kidney, the activity ratio at pH 4.0-6.5 is approximately 1. Antibodies for human liver acid alpha-glucosidase decrease the alpha-glucosidase activity in normal leukocytes by 22-75% at pH 4.0 (0.54-3.8 nmol/min per mg protein). The decrease is significantly lower in patients with Pompe's disease (0-0.11 nmol/min per mg protein) as well as in their parents and some siblings (0.15-0.70).

Prenatal diagnosis of galactosemia and properties of galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase in erythrocytes of galactosemic variants as well as in human fetal and adult organs.

The kinetic characteristics and isoelectrofocusing patterns of uridyltransferase and the concentrations of galactose-1-phosphate in hemolysates were investigated in a family with compound variants of Duarte and classical galactosemia. There were no significant differences in Km values between the genotypes. However, the isoelectrofocusing study with thin-layer polyacrylamide gels (PAGIF) as well as with agarose gels (AGIF) showed a distinctive difference. The enzyme from the Duarte variant resolved into at least two more activity bands at pH between 5.2 and 5.4. The accumulation of galactose-1-phosphate was observed only in homozygotes for classical galactosemia. Compound heterozygotes (G-D) without any clinical manifestations did not show an accumulation of galactose-1-phosphate. The isoelectrofocusing study of the enzyme in human tissues revealed their activity resolving into multiple bands, 6-8 bands at pH 5.50-6.00 and 1-3 bands at pH 4.9-5.2. No significant differences were found in the patterns between fetal and adult liver except that the intensity of the anodic bands (pH 4.9-5.2) was weaker in fetal tissues. Prenatal diagnosis of classical galactosemia was performed in nine families by measuring the enzyme activity in cultivated amniotic fluid cells. Absence of the enzyme activity in amniotic fluid cells was found in two cases, and in four cases the heterozygosity was diagnosed by a relative low enzyme activity, 30-50% of the activity in control cells cultured in parallel.

A method for galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase assay and the separation of its isozymes by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography.

A simplified radioactive assay for galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.12) using a small DEAE-cellulose column for the identification of the endproduct (uridine diphosphate galactose) is described. The enzyme activities in red blood cell hemolysates of normal subjects are in the range of 24 to 33 (average 30.3) mumol UDPgalactose produced per g hemoglobin per h and in fibroblasts 0.39 and 1.39 (average 0.71) nmol per mg protein per min. Furthermore, different isozymes of red blood cell galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase were separated on DEAE-cellulose columns. In the case of a normal genotype, most of the enzyme activity is eluted at the earlier fractions with the low molar phosphate buffer, whereas the Duarte variant appeared at later fractions with higher molar phosphate buffer.

Separation of acid and neutral alpha-glucosidase isoenzymes from fetal and adult tissues, cultivated fibroblasts and amniotic fluid cells by DEAE-cellulose and sephadex G-100 column chromatography.

Isoenzymes of alpha-glucosidases (EC 3.2.1.20) from various human organs and body fluids from fetuses and adults were separated by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography and gel filtration using Sephadex G-100. A minicolumn (0.35 X 2.5 cm) was used for the DEAE-cellulose column chromatography of extracts from tissues as well as cultivated cells of skin fibroblasts and amniotic fluid. The enzyme activity in the eluates was measured by the use of a methylumbelliferyl derivative as substrate and a very sensitive Microscope fluorimeter. In most tissue samples alpha-glucosidase was eluted mainly as a single peak when monitored at acid pH and as two peaks when the activity was measured at neutral pH in both columns. Another small peak representing alpha-glucosidase was found in fresh extracts of cultured cells on DEAE-cellulose columns. Neutral alpha-glucosidase especially in fibroblasts was extremely sensitive to storage at -20 degrees C. DEAE-cellulose column chromatography of plasma and amniotic fluid showed similar elution patterns of alpha-glucosidase. Differences were noticed in the elution pattern of urine from infants and adults. The tissue distribution and the different characteristics of the enzyme in samples of various origins and ages were discussed.

Characterization of galactose-1-phosphate uridyl-transferase and galactokinase in human organs from the fetus and adult.

Some properties of galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.12) and galactokinase (EC 2.7.1.6) were investigated in human organs, i.e., in liver kidney, skeletal muscle, lung, spleen, heart and brain from fetuses as well as liver, kidney and skeletal muscle tissues from adults. (1) Galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (transferase) is quite stable when stored below 4 degrees C, and can be frozen from a couple of months without noticeable loss of activity. Galactokinase is relatively stable as long as the cell structure is intact. In cell homogenates its activity decreases very fast, especially under freezing conditions. (2) The pH optimum of transferase in all human tissues is at pH values between 8.2 and 8.4 except in erythrocytes in which it is at a higher pH value. Maximal activity of galactokinase is observed at approximately 8.2 in all human tissues. (3) The Km values of transferase are similar in all human organs, and the values in fetal tissues are not significantly different from those in adult tissues. In the case of galactokinase also no distinct tissue variations are observed in Km values. However, galactokinase affinity for both substrates is considerably higher in adult organs than in fetal organs. (4) Transferase and galactokinase activity in human liver is resolved into two major components on DEAE-cellulose columns. It seems that transferase and galactokinase exist in human tissues as more than two isoenzyme constituents.

Agarose gel isoelectrofocusing of UDP-galactose pyrophosphorylase and galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase. Developmental aspect of UDP-galactose pyrophosphorylase.

The uridine diphosphogalactose pyrophosphorylase activity has been determined in human adult and fetal tissues as well as blood of various ages by measurement of UDP-galactose production from gal-1-p and UTP. The highest activity was found from adult liver in which the specific activity was about 5% of the gal-1-p uridyltransferase activity. In general adult tissues had a somewhat higher activity than the corresponding fetal tissues except erythrocytes in which fetuses had a 5-10 times higher activity than adults. From normal blood the pyrophosphorylase activity in erythrocytes decreased with age, but in the case of galactosemia the decrease with age was not distinct. According to agarose gel isoelectrofocusing studies, at least two isozyme forms for UDP-galactose pyrophosphorylase exist with the activity bands between pH 6.0-6.15. The patterns of AGIF bands of pyrophosphorylase varied according to the age of the samples, suggesting the development of the isozyme forms of pyrophosphorylase to be age-dependent. Uridyltransferase, on the other hand, resolved into multiple bands between pH 5.1-5.6 on agarose gels and the patterns varied according to the variants but not to the age. Significance of the decrease in the pyrophosphorylase activity in erythrocytes with age as well as of the difference in AGIF bands between normal and the galactosemic were discussed with regard to the pathology of classical galactosemia.

Improvement in respiratory compliance after surfactant therapy evaluated by a new method.

Descriptions of the effects of intratracheally applied surfactant on respiratory system compliance (C(rs)) have been somewhat controversial because the commonly used methods for assessing pulmonary function were designed for a linear pressure/volume (P/V) relation of the respiratory system. In infants with lung disease a linear P/V relation cannot be expected. Therefore, a new method (APVNL) was employed which enabled us to calculate respiratory system compliance (C(rs)) and resistance (R(rs)) based on changes in volume (V). This method is independent of the P/V relation, and was used to assess the effects of intratracheal instillation of surfactant. Fourteen infants (gestational age, 24 to 30 weeks) with respiratory distress syndrome were treated with bovine surfactant intratracheally while the fractional inspired oxygen concentration (FiO(2)) exceeded 50%. C(rs) was evaluated for the infants using the APVNL method and the method of linear regression (LR) based on the equation of motion designed for linear P/V relationships. Two hours after surfactant treatment, the median reduction of FiO(2) was 33% (95% CI: 20-50%; P < 0.01). There was no correlation between the change in FiO(2) and the change in C(rs), using either the APVNL method or the LR method. Two hours after surfactant treatment, the median improvement in C(rs) was 0.37 mL/cmH(2)O/kg (95% CI: 0.07-1. 16 mL/cmH(2)O) at a change in V of 1 mL/kg (P < 0.02) and 0.23 mL/cmH(2)O/kg (95% CI: 0-0.57 mL/cmH(2)O) at a change in V of 2 mL/kg (P < 0.05) when the APVNL method was used. The LR method could not show a significant change in C(rs) after surfactant treatment. Further, R(rs) did not show significant changes 2 hr after surfactant administration. We conclude that the APVNL method is more appropriate for evaluating changes of C(rs) elicited by surfactant treatment than the LR method. The APVNL method demonstrated significant initial improvements in compliance as lung volumes were increased; there were no significant further decreases in C(rs) as peak inspiratory pressures and the upper limits of tidal volume were approached.

Evaluation of transit-time and electromagnetic flow measurement in a chronically instrumented nonhuman primate model.

The Physiology Research Branch at Brooks AFB conducts both human and nonhuman primate experiments to determine the effects of microgravity and hypergravity on the cardiovascular system and to identify the particular mechanisms that invoke these responses. Primary investigative efforts in our nonhuman primate model require the determination of total peripheral resistance, systemic arterial compliance, and pressure-volume loop characteristics. These calculations require beat-to-beat measurement of aortic flow. This study evaluated accuracy, linearity, biocompatability, and anatomical features of commercially available electromagnetic (EMF) and transit-time flow measurement techniques. Five rhesus monkeys were instrumented with either EMF (3 subjects) or transit-time (2 subjects) flow sensors encircling the proximal ascending aorta. Cardiac outputs computed from these transducers taken over ranges of 0.5 to 2.0 L/min were compared to values obtained using thermodilution. In vivo experiments demonstrated that the EMF probe produced an average error of 15% (r = .896) and 8.6% average linearity per reading, and the transit-time flow probe produced an average error of 6% (r = .955) and 5.3% average linearity per reading. Postoperative performance and biocompatability of the probes were maintained throughout the study. The transit-time sensors provided the advantages of greater accuracy, smaller size, and lighter weight than the EMF probes. In conclusion, the characteristic features and performance of the transit-time sensors were superior to those of the EMF sensors in this study.