title: Reduced progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy with routine use of induction therapy with basiliximab.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a major limitation for long-term survival of patients undergoing heart transplantation (HT). Some immunosuppressants can reduce the risk of CAV.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary objective was to evaluate the variation in the volumetric growth of the intimal layer measured by intracoronary ultrasound (IVUS) after 1 year in patients who received basiliximab compared with that in a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients treated at a single center between 2007 and 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. Evaluations were performed with IVUS, measuring the volume of a coronary segment within the first 30 days and 1 year after HT. Vasculopathy was characterized by the volume of the intima of the vessel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen patients included (7 in the basiliximab group and 6 in the control group). On IVUS assessment, the control group was found to have greater vessel volume (120-185.43 mm3 vs. 127.77-131.32 mm3; p = 0.051). Intimal layer growth (i.e., CAV) was also higher in the control group (27.30-49.15 mm3 [∆80%] vs. 20.23-26.69 mm3[∆33%]; p = 0.015). Univariate regression analysis revealed that plaque volume and prior atherosclerosis of the donor were not related to intima growth (r = 0.15, p = 0.96), whereas positive remodeling was directly proportional to the volumetric growth of the intima (r = 0.85, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Routine induction therapy with basiliximab was associated with reduced growth of the intima of the vessel during the first year after HT.
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa de Curitiba, Curitiba, PR, BR.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa de Curitiba, Curitiba, PR, BR.
authors.forename: Lidia Ana Zytynski
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, BR.
authors.forename: Sergio Veiga
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa de Curitiba, Curitiba, PR, BR.
authors.forename: Francisco Diniz Affonso da
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa de Curitiba, Curitiba, PR, BR.
authors.forename: Newton Fernando Stadler
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Souza Filho
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa de Curitiba, Curitiba, PR, BR.
authors.forename: Tiago Luiz
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa de Curitiba, Curitiba, PR, BR.
authors.forename: Natália Boing
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Salvatti
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, BR.
authors.forename: José Rocha
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Faria-Neto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D064591:Allografts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077552:Basiliximab; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000077552:Basiliximab