Longitudinal analysis of fibroblast growth factor expression after transplantation and association with severity of cardiac allograft vasculopathy.
BACKGROUND
Vascular smooth muscle cell growth factors are postulated to contribute to cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). Few data quantitatively address the timing, location, or stimuli for growth factor expression and relationship to CAV.


RESULTS
Acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) mRNA expression was determined in serial endomyocardial biopsies during the first year after transplantation. Patients with high levels of aFGF mRNA and elevations after the early posttransplant period had significantly more severe CAV than patients with low aFGF and no late elevations.


CONCLUSIONS
Parenchymal aFGF expression varies between patients and in the same patient over time and correlates with development of CAV.
Miller
G G
GG
Department of Medicine Vanderbilt University Medical School, Nashville, TN 37232-2605, USA.
Davis
S F
SF
Atkinson
J B
JB
Chomsky
D B
DB
Pedroso
P
P
Reddy
V S
VS
Drinkwater
D C
DC
Zhao
X M
XM
Pierson
R N
RN
D001706:Biopsy; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1