Open AccessPrognostic Value of Biomarkers in Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy following Heart Transplantation: A Literature Review
Author(s) -
Shaghayegh Habibi,
Eiman Ghaffarpasand,
Fahimehalsadat Shojaei,
Mahda Alihashemi,
Farima Kahe,
Farbod Zahedi Tajrishi,
Gerald Chi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.547
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1421-9751
pISSN - 0008-6312
DOI - 10.1159/000509630
Subject(s) - cardiac allograft vasculopathy , medicine , cardiology , heart transplantation , biomarker , transplantation , angina , heart failure , coronary arteries , risk stratification , thickening , artery , myocardial infarction , biochemistry , chemistry , polymer science
Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), also known as cardiac transplant vasculopathy, is a major determinant of long-term survival among cardiac transplantation recipients. Histologically, CAV is featured by diffuse, concentric thickening of the vascular wall, and primarily affects large and small epicardial coronary arteries, intramyocardial arteries, and veins. Owing to graft denervation, CAV typically follows an insidious course, and patients may not experience classic angina symptoms but instead present with progressive heart failure or ventricular arrhythmias. Recent studies on biomarkers have furthered the knowledge concerning the prediction and prognosis of CAV. Given its association with metabolic, thrombotic, inflammatory, and immunologic markers, CAV is likely to represent a complex multifactorial process that involves both immune-mediated and non-immune-mediated pathways. In order to identify the high-risk patients that would benefit from early intervention, future research is warranted to examine the usefulness of a biomarker panel in CAV risk stratification.