Angiographic regression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy after introducing sirolimus immunosuppression

• Published in: The Journal of heart and lung transplantation Vol. 22; no. 11; pp. 1276 - 1279
• Main Authors: Ruygrok, Peter N, Webber, Bruce, Faddy, Stephen, Muller, David W, Keogh, Anne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.11.2003; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Artery Disease - drug therapy; Graft Rejection - drug therapy; Heart Transplantation - adverse effects; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Male; Medical sciences; Sirolimus - therapeutic use; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the heart; Survivors; Transplantation, Homologous - adverse effects; Heart; Sirolimus; Respiratory disease; Lung; Regression; Cardiovascular disease; Transplantation; Homotransplantation; Respiratory system; Vascular disease; Antibiotic; Immunosuppression; Treatment; Surgery; Graft; Circulatory system; Immunosuppressive agent; Antibacterial agent
• ISSN: 1053-2498; 1557-3117
• DOI: 10.1016/S1053-2498(02)01239-1

We describe a 33-year-old heart transplant recipient who experienced several episodes of early Grade IIIA rejection and aggressive allograft vasculopathy, seen with serial coronary angiography. Two years after transplantation, we added sirolimus therapy to the patient’s immunosuppressive regimen, and a further coronary angiogram 1 year later showed regression of the graft vasculopathy.