Combined heart and liver transplant attenuates cardiac allograft vasculopathy compared with isolated heart transplantation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We evaluated whether combined heart and liver transplant (H+LTx) can protect the heart graft from the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy using coronary three-dimensional (3D) volumetric intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Methods

From 2004 to 2009, we identified 24 isolated heart transplant (HTx) and 10 H+LTx recipients in whom two coronary 3D IVUS studies were performed 1 year apart. Baseline 3D IVUS was performed at 0.22 (0.17-1.16) years after transplantation, with follow-up 3D IVUS exams performed after baseline exam (0.96 [0.83-1.08]).

Results

Rate of plaque volume and plaque index (plaque volume/vessel volume) progression was attenuated in the H+LTx group (0.3±1.1 vs. 1.5±2.9 mm/mm; P=0.08 and 0.01±0.03 vs. 0.1±0.1; P=0.004, respectively). Rej

SUBMITTER: Topilsky Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3733541 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature