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Published on: February 7, 2014
Pulse Wave Velocity in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients-A Marker of Vascular Health
John-Anthony Coppola1, Dipankar Gupta1, Dalia Lopez-Colon1
1Congenital Heart Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Insights
Pediatric heart transplant recipients often show elevated arterial stiffness, measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV). Abnormal PWV was common early and late post-transplant, with cholesterol levels showing a negative correlation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Transplantation Science
Background:
- Elevated arterial stiffness is a known risk factor for cardiovascular comorbidities like stroke and heart attack.
- Pediatric heart transplant recipients frequently experience arterial hypertension and increased aortic stiffness.
- Limited data exists on pulse wave velocity (PWV) in pediatric heart transplant populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess arterial stiffness using PWV in pediatric heart transplant recipients.
- To investigate the prevalence and patterns of PWV in this patient group.
- To explore potential correlations between PWV and clinical factors.
Main Methods:
- An observational, prospective study design was employed.
- Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured using hemodynamic tracings obtained via pigtail catheter pullback.
- Measurements were taken from the ascending to descending aorta during surveillance cardiac catheterization.
Main Results:
- Abnormal PWV (≥4m/s) was observed in patients both early and late after heart transplantation.
- Cholesterol levels demonstrated a negative correlation with PWV.
- PWV measurements indicated significant arterial stiffness in the pediatric heart transplant cohort.
Conclusions:
- Arterial stiffness, assessed by PWV, is frequently elevated in pediatric heart transplant recipients.
- Further longitudinal studies are necessary to correlate abnormal PWV with clinical complications.
- Monitoring PWV may be crucial for managing cardiovascular risk in these patients.
Abstract:
Elevated arterial stiffness is associated with an increased risk of comorbidities such as stroke, heart attack, and kidney disease. Pediatric heart transplant patients are known to have arterial hypertension and elevated aortic stiffness. Limited data on pulse wave velocity (PWV), a surrogate for arterial stiffness, is available in pediatric patients. We performed an observational, prospective study assessing arterial stiffness, utilizing PWV, in pediatric heart transplant recipients. Hemodynamic tracings were obtained via pigtail catheter pullback from ascending to descending aorta during surveillance cardiac catheterization. We found that PWV was abnormal ≥4m/s in patients early and late post-heart transplantation. Cholesterol levels were negatively correlated with PWV. A serial longitudinal assessment of PWV is required to further correlate abnormal PWV with clinical complications.
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