Cardiac allograft vasculopathy

• DOI: 10.1007/s00059-010-3373-8
• Publication Date: 2010-10-27T15:06:36Z
• Authors: G. Di Bella; F. Minutoli; S. Coglitore; A. Recupero; R. Donato; R. Caruso; P. Grimaldi; S. Lentini
• Keywords: Left Ventricular Thrombus; Cardiac allograft vasculopathy; Coronary arteries

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is an accelerated form of coronary artery disease affecting both intramyocardial and epicardial coronary arteries and is observed in patients during long-term survival after cardiac transplantation. We report a case of CAV complicated with silent transmural myocardial infarction and massive left ventricular thrombus formation associated with silent pericarditis and with ischemic and non-ischemic scar tissue, as detected by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI). The authors suggest CMRI as an additional technique along with echocardiography during follow-up of heart transplant recipients. CMRI may contribute to the early identification of areas of myocardial wall abnormalities suggestive of CAV, thus guiding diagnosis and prompt percutaneous treatment.