Document Detail


Efficacy of augmented immunosuppressive therapy for early vasculopathy in heart transplantation.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9708469     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Objectives: The present study was undertaken to prospectively and comparatively evaluate the role of serial myocardial perfusion imaging and coronary angiography for the detection of early vasculopathy in a large patient population and also to determine the short- and long-term efficacy of augmented immunosuppressive therapy in the potential reversal of the early vasculopathy. BACKGROUND: Allograft vasculopathy is the commonest cause of death after the first year of heart transplantation. Anecdotal studies have reported the efficacy of augmented immunosuppressive therapy after early detection of vascular involvement. However, no prospective study has evaluated the feasibility of early detection and treatment of allograft vasculopathy. METHODS: In 76 cardiac allograft recipients, 230 coronary angiographic and 376 scintigraphic studies were performed in a follow-up period of 8 years. Angiography was performed at 1 month and every year after transplantation, and thallium-201 scintigraphy at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after transplantation and twice a year thereafter. Prospective follow-up of 76 patients showed that 18 developed either angiographic or scintigraphic evidence of coronary vasculopathy. All episodes were treated with 3-day methylprednisolone pulse and antithymocyte globulin. RESULTS: Twenty-two episodes of vasculopathy were diagnosed and treated in these 18 patients. Of these 22 episodes, two were detected only by angiography, seven by both angiography and scintigraphy, four by scintigraphy and histologic evidence of vasculitis and nine episodes only by thallium-201 scintigraphy studies. Angiographic and/or scintigraphic resolution was observed in 15 of the 22 episodes (68%) with augmented immunosuppression. The likelihood of regression was higher when treatment was instituted within the first year of transplantation (92%) than after the first year (40%) (p = 0.033). Eighty percent of patients who responded to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that early detection of allograft coronary vasculopathy is feasible with surveillance myocardial perfusion or coronary angiographic studies. When identified early after transplantation, immunosuppressive treatment may result in regression of coronary disease.
Authors:
R Lamich; M Ballester; V Martí; V Brossa; R Aymat; I Carrió; L Bernà; M Campreciós; M Puig; M Estorch; A Flotats; R Bordes; J Garcia; Augè; J M Padró; J M Caralps; J Narula
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of the American College of Cardiology     Volume:  32     ISSN:  0735-1097     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Am. Coll. Cardiol.     Publication Date:  1998 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1998-09-01     Completed Date:  1998-09-01     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8301365     Medline TA:  J Am Coll Cardiol     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  413-9     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Cardiology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage,  therapeutic use
Antilymphocyte Serum / administration & dosage,  therapeutic use
Cause of Death
Child
Coronary Angiography
Coronary Circulation / drug effects
Coronary Disease / drug therapy,  prevention & control*,  radiography,  radionuclide imaging
Evaluation Studies as Topic
Feasibility Studies
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage,  therapeutic use
Heart Transplantation*
Humans
Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage,  therapeutic use*
Male
Methylprednisolone / administration & dosage,  therapeutic use
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Radiopharmaceuticals / diagnostic use
Thallium Radioisotopes / diagnostic use
Time Factors
Vasculitis / drug therapy,  prevention & control,  radiography,  radionuclide imaging
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anti-Inflammatory Agents; 0/Antilymphocyte Serum; 0/Glucocorticoids; 0/Immunosuppressive Agents; 0/Radiopharmaceuticals; 0/Thallium Radioisotopes; 83-43-2/Methylprednisolone

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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