Abstract
Cardiac allograft vasculopathy is the main cause of late morbidity and mortality in heart transplant patients and significantly shortens their long-term survival. It is characterized by a diffuse concentric intimal hyperplasia, which manifests itself in the form of early stenotic coronary artery disease.
The diagnosis should be made on the basis of a combination of findings from non-invasive and invasive examinations. Treatment options are limited, hence prevention of its development is crucial.
This article discusses the epidemiology, symptoms, pathogenesis, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of this disease.