Repeated intravascular ultrasound imaging in cardiac transplant recipients does not accelerate transplant coronary artery disease.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to examine the impact of repeated intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) examinations on transplant coronary artery disease (CAD).


BACKGROUND
Serial IVUS is the most accurate method for early detection and surveillance of transplant CAD. However, the long-term safety of serial IVUS exams is not well described. Accordingly, we examined the impact of repeated IVUS examinations on transplant CAD.


METHODS
We examined 226 transplant recipients who underwent one or more IVUS examinations and coronary angiography at least one year after the last IVUS exam. The coronary angiograms were analyzed using quantitative coronary angiography. Vessel diameters, frequency, and severity of stenoses in IVUS-imaged and nonimaged coronary arteries were compared. In a subgroup analysis of 31 patients, angiographic lumen diameters were measured at baseline (within eight weeks of transplantation) and during follow-up (after two, three, or four IVUS studies).


RESULTS
In the 226 patients, 548 coronary arteries were previously imaged by IVUS and 130 arteries were not imaged by IVUS. On subsequent angiograms, stenoses were observed in 16.2% (21/130) of nonimaged arteries and 19.5% (107/548) of imaged arteries (p = 0.38). The arterial diameters of nonimaged and imaged arteries were not significantly different (p = 0.07), regardless of the number of IVUS exams and duration of follow-up. Subgroup analysis revealed a significant decrease in vessel lumen diameter over time in nonimaged as well as imaged arteries. The magnitude of the diameter decrease was not significantly different between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Repeated IVUS examinations following heart transplantation do not result in angiographically evident acceleration of transplant CAD. Therefore, serial IVUS imaging is a safe method for the detection and surveillance of transplant CAD.
Ramasubbu
Kumudha
K
Department of Cardiology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, F25, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Schoenhagen
Paul
P
Balghith
Mohammed A
MA
Brechtken
Johannes
J
Ziada
Khaled M
KM
Kapadia
Samir R
SR
Hobbs
Robert E
RE
Rincon
Gustavo
G
Nissen
Steven E
SE
Tuzcu
E Murat
EM
D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000009:adverse effects*