Intensity of Statin Therapy Affects Progression of Coronary Artery Vasculopathy

Statin therapy offers long-term morbidity and mortality benefits after orthotopic heart transplant (OHT), regardless of lipid levels. Multiple statins have been specifically studied in post-OHT patients, showing decrease in dyslipidemia and development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). CAV is an accelerated form of coronary artery disease characterized by concentric fibrous intimal hyperplasia along the length of coronary vessels. CAV is detectable by angiography in 43% of survivors in the first 8 years after OHT.
Source: The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation - Category: Transplant Surgery Authors: Tags: 691 Source Type: research