Microvascular Loss and Diastolic Dysfunction in Severe Symptomatic Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 3, 2026

A Porcine Heterotopic Heart Transplantation Protocol for Delivery of Therapeutics to a Cardiac Allograft
08:30

A Porcine Heterotopic Heart Transplantation Protocol for Delivery of Therapeutics to a Cardiac Allograft

Published on: February 14, 2022

3.1K

Anees Daud1, David Xu1, Monica P Revelo2,3

  • 1Division of Cardiovascular Medicine (A.D., D.X., Z.S., S.G.D., E.D., G.S., J.N.-N., E.M.G., O.W.-P., J.C.F., J.S.).

Circulation. Heart Failure
|October 26, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Severe cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) involves microvasculature damage, not just fibrosis. This loss and remodeling of capillaries contribute to diastolic dysfunction after heart transplant.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Transplantation immunology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a significant cause of death post-heart transplant.
  • Understanding structural and microvascular changes in severe CAV is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify specific structural and microvasculature alterations in heart transplant recipients with severe CAV.

Main Methods:

  • Compared myocardial microvasculature in severe CAV patients (n=20) with transplant controls (n=20), ischemic controls (n=18), and donor controls (n=10).
  • Utilized echocardiography and histopathologic examination of myocardial tissue.
  • Assessed capillary density and capillary wall thickness.

Main Results:

  • Severe CAV hearts showed reduced capillary density and increased capillary wall thickness compared to transplant controls.
  • Diastolic dysfunction was present in severe CAV but preserved in transplant controls.
  • Interstitial fibrosis was observed across severe CAV, transplant, and ischemic control groups.

Conclusions:

  • Diastolic dysfunction in severe CAV appears linked to microvasculature loss and remodeling, not solely interstitial fibrosis.
  • These microvascular changes may be a primary driver of symptoms in severe CAV.
  • Further research is needed to explore the clinical significance and therapeutic potential of these findings.
Abstract

Keywords:
allograftscardiomyopathiesdiastoleechocardiographyheart transplantation

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: A Pharmacodissection Approach to Uncover Mechanisms in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Populations08:21

Author Spotlight: A Pharmacodissection Approach to Uncover Mechanisms in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Populations

Published on: July 21, 2023

2.1K
Fertility Preservation in Patients with Severe Ovarian Dysfunction12:03

Fertility Preservation in Patients with Severe Ovarian Dysfunction

Published on: March 25, 2021

5.0K

Related Concept Videos

Line Loss01:10

Line Loss

The different configurations of source-load connections include wye (star) and delta connections. The relationship between line and phase voltages and currents varies depending on the configuration. When the source is supplying power, it is transmitted through the wires to the load, and during this transmission, some power is absorbed by the wires, leading to line loss.
Line loss impacts power delivery efficiency in a balanced three-phase circuit. The symmetry in such a circuit simplifies the...
543
Reducing Line Loss01:18

Reducing Line Loss

In a three-phase circuit, line loss is an indicator of energy dissipated as heat due to the resistance of transmission lines. To address this, incorporating transformers into the system—a step-up transformer at the source and a step-down transformer at the load—is a strategic solution. Two three-phase transformers are introduced to improve this.
With a step-up transformer at the source, the voltage is increased, thereby reducing the current in the transmission lines since power loss in...
390
Energy Losses in Transformers01:21

Energy Losses in Transformers

In an ideal transformer, it is assumed that there are no energy losses, and, hence, all the power at the primary winding is transferred to the secondary winding. However, in reality,  the transformers always have some energy losses, and, hence, the output power obtained at the secondary winding is less than the input power at the primary winding due to energy losses.
There are four main reasons for energy losses in transformers.
The first cause can be  the high resistance of the...
1.3K
Major Losses in Pipes01:28

Major Losses in Pipes

When a fluid flows through a pipe, it experiences energy losses due to frictional resistance along the pipe walls, known as major losses. These energy losses result in a pressure drop, which varies based on the flow conditions — whether laminar or turbulent — and the specific physical properties of the fluid and pipe.
Fluid flow can be classified as laminar or turbulent, primarily based on the Reynolds number. This dimensionless number reflects the relative influence of inertial to viscous...
2.0K
Minor Losses in Pipes01:25

Minor Losses in Pipes

In pipe systems, minor losses refer to energy losses arising from components such as valves, bends, fittings, expansions, and other features that disrupt the steady flow of fluid. These disturbances cause energy dissipation through turbulence and resistance, which engineers quantify to manage system efficiency effectively.
Valves play a significant role in generating minor losses by obstructing or redirecting the fluid flow. When a valve is closed or partially closed, it restricts the flow...
1.9K
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss01:57

Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss

Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.
28.2K