Cardiac imaging for the assessment of patients being evaluated for kidney or liver transplantation

• Published in: Journal of nuclear cardiology Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 282 - 296
• Main Authors: Parikh, Kalindi, Appis, Andrew, Doukky, Rami
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Inc 01.04.2015; Springer US; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: cardiac imaging; Cardiology; CME Article Review Article; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnostic imaging; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Humans; Imaging; Kidney Transplantation; Liver Transplantation; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; myocardial perfusion imaging; Nuclear Medicine; Patient Selection; preoperative; Preoperative Care - methods; Radiology; Radionuclide Imaging; risk assessment; Risk Assessment - methods; preoperative; risk assessment; myocardial perfusion imaging; liver transplantation; cardiac imaging; Kidney transplantation
• ISSN: 1071-3581; 1532-6551
• DOI: 10.1007/s12350-014-9997-y

Cardiac risk assessment prior to kidney and liver transplantation is controversial. Given the paucity of available organs, selecting appropriate recipients with favorable short- and long-term cardiovascular risk profile is crucial. Using noninvasive cardiac imaging tools to guide cardiovascular risk assessment and management can also be challenging and controversial. In this article, we address the burden of coronary artery disease among kidney and liver transplant candidates and review the literature pertaining to the diagnostic accuracy and the prognostic value of noninvasive cardiac imaging techniques in this population.