Do cardiovascular risk factors influence cardiac allograft vasculopathy?

Background: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is the leading cause of heart transplant failure after the first year. The etiological factors involved are currently a controversial matter. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is considered the diagnostic procedure of choice.

Diagnostic usefulness of inflammatory markers in acute cellular rejection after heart transplantation.

Background: Acute cellular rejection (ACR) affects early morbidity and mortality after heart transplantation. The diagnostic technique of choice is endomyocardial biopsy. Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of inflammatory markers as a noninvasive method to monitor cellular rejection.