Cardiac allograft vasculopathy : complications and imaging studies
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Published on: April 28, 2013
G Di Bella1, F Minutoli, S Coglitore
1Clinical and Experimental Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, Cardiology Unit, University of Messina, Italy.
Insights
Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a severe form of coronary artery disease after heart transplants. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) aids in early detection of CAV complications, improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Transplantation Medicine
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is accelerated coronary artery disease post-heart transplant.
- Long-term survival after cardiac transplantation is challenged by CAV development.
Abstract:
Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is an accelerated form of coronary artery disease affecting both intramyocardial and epicardial coronary arteries and is observed in patients during long-term survival after cardiac transplantation. We report a case of CAV complicated with silent transmural myocardial infarction and massive left ventricular thrombus formation associated with silent pericarditis and with ischemic and non-ischemic scar tissue, as detected by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI). The authors suggest CMRI as an additional technique along with echocardiography during follow-up of heart transplant recipients. CMRI may contribute to the early identification of areas of myocardial wall abnormalities suggestive of CAV, thus guiding diagnosis and prompt percutaneous treatment.
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