Attenuated-Signal Plaque Progression Predicts Long-Term Mortality After Heart Transplantation: IVUS Assessment of Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is typically characterized by diffuse coronary intimal thickening with pathological vessel remodeling, plaque instability may also play an important role in CAV. Previous studies of native coronary atherosclerosis have demonstrated associations between attenuated-signal plaque (ASP), plaque instability, and adverse clinical events.

Objectives

This study's aim was to characterize the association between ASP and long-term mortality post-heart transplantation.

Methods

In 105 heart transplant recipients, serial (baseline and 1-year post-transplant) intravascular ultrasound was performed in the first 50 mm of the left anterior descending artery. The ASP score was calculated by grading the measured angle of attenuatio

SUBMITTER: Okada K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4959008 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature