Identification of Preoperative Risk Factors for the Development of Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy: A Systematic Review

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe purpose of this systematic review was to analyze the current literature and identify all known preoperative risk factors associated with an increased incidence of cardiac allograft vasculopathy.Recent FindingsA total of 7 independent preoperative risk factors for cardiac allograft vasculopathy were identified, namelyT. gondii seropositivity (HR 4.39, 1.26 –15.62,p <  0.02), elevated body mass index (HR 1.116, 1.015–1.23,p <  0.02), 2–1 haptoglobin phenotype (HR 2.73, 1.03–7.19,p <  0.01), elevated low-density lipoproteins (OR 2.14, 1.02–4.46,p <  0.04), single-nucleotide polymorphism -201 matching (HR 11.9, 4.3–32.9,p <  0.01), stroke cause of death (HR 1.47, 1.04–2.09,p <  0.03), and pre-transplant hemodynamic instability (HR 1.79, 1.15–2.77,p <  0.01).SummaryCardiac allograft vasculopathy is the leading cause of death in patients who survive more than a few years following transplantation and is likely the limiting factor in expanding the average life expectancy post-transplant. The development of therapeutics targeting the multifactorial etiology of this vasculopathy would undoubtedly provide hope for patients whose time is currently limited.
Source: Current Surgery Reports - Category: Surgery Source Type: research