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Weis M, Weis M. Transplant Vasculopathy Versus Native Atherosclerosis: Similarities and Differences. Transplantation 2024; 108:1342-1349. [PMID: 37899386 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is one of the leading causes of graft failure and death after heart transplantation. Alloimmune-dependent and -independent factors trigger the pathogenesis of CAV through activation of the recipients' (and to a lesser extent donor-derived) immune system. Early diagnosis of CAV is complicated by the lack of clinical symptoms for ischemia in the denervated heart, by the impact of early functional coronary alterations, by the insensitivity of coronary angiography, and by the involvement of small intramyocardial vessels. CAV in general is a panarterial disease confined to the allograft and characterized by diffuse concentric longitudinal intimal hyperplasia in the epicardial coronary arteries and concentric medial disease in the microvasculature. Plaque composition in CAV may include early fibrous and fibrofatty tissue and late atheromatous calcification. In contrast, native coronary atherosclerosis usually develops over decades, is focal, noncircumferential, and typically diminishes proximal parts of the epicardial vessels. The rapid and early development of CAV has an adverse prognostic impact, and current prevention and treatment strategies are of limited efficacy compared with established strategies in native atherosclerosis. Following acute coronary syndromes, patients after heart transplantation were more likely to have accompanying cardiogenic shock and higher mortality compared with acute coronary syndromes patients with native hearts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Weis
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Krankenhaus Neuwittelsbach, Munich, Germany
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Orban M, Kuehl A, Dischl D, Müller C, Ulrich S, Petzold T, Rizas KD, Orban M, Braun D, Hausleiter J, Hagl C, Mehilli J, Massberg S. Fibrotic plaques in heart transplanted patients and their association with insulin resistance syndrome and Lp(a). Int J Cardiol 2022; 363:218-224. [PMID: 35772579 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2022.06.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiographic evidence of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAVangio) is a major limiting factor to survival after heart transplantation (HTx). Prevention of CAVangio is therefore most relevant. Whether modifiable risk factors could be targeted for the prevention of fibrotic plaques, that are common and related to CAVangio, is not clear. METHODS AND RESULTS In a cohort of 74 consecutive HTx patients (median post-transplant interval 9.2 [4.1-15.5] years), we used the high resolution of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to quantify angulation parameters (maximal and mean arc) and plaque load (mean arc*relative plaque length) of fibrotic plaques. Mean arc was defined as the mean value of all angulation measurements per patient. We assessed the association between cardiovascular risk factors and OCT findings. Linear regression analysis showed a significant association of TG/HDL-c with mean fibrotic arc (12.7 [3.9-21.5], p = 0.006) and fibrotic plaque load (2298 [617-3979], p = 0.009) after adjustment for recipient age and sex. We used the median value of fibrotic plaque load to define high fibrotic plaque load. In binary logistic regression analysis, TG/HDL-c (odds ratio [OR] 1.81 with 95% CI [1.09-3.03], p = 0.02) and Lp(a) (OR 1.02 [1.00-1.05], p = 0.02) were associated with high fibrotic plaque load. Multivariable logistic regression analysis confirmed Lp(a) as significant predictor of high fibrotic plaque load (OR 1.03 [1.01-1.05], p = 0.02). CONCLUSION TG/HDL-c ratio, a surrogate of insulin resistance syndrome, and Lp(a) were significantly associated with fibrotic plaque in HTx patients. Insulin resistance syndrome and Lp(a) might therefore represent additional targets for CAV prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Orban
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Anne Kuehl
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany
| | - Dominic Dischl
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany
| | - Christoph Müller
- Department of Heart Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany
| | - Sarah Ulrich
- Department of Paediatric Cardiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Petzold
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany
| | - Konstantinos D Rizas
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Orban
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Braun
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany
| | - Jörg Hausleiter
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Hagl
- Department of Heart Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julinda Mehilli
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Berlin, Germany
| | - Steffen Massberg
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Berlin, Germany
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Letter to the Editor. Response to "Diagnosis of CAV in OCT Scans From Heart Transplanted Patients". Transplant Direct 2022; 8:e1326. [PMID: 35557990 PMCID: PMC9088234 DOI: 10.1097/txd.0000000000001326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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