Coronary Doppler measurements do not predict progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy: analysis by serial intracoronary Doppler, dobutamine stress echocardiography, and intracoronary ultrasound

J Heart Lung Transplant. 2002 Aug;21(8):902-5. doi: 10.1016/s1053-2498(01)00416-8.

Abstract

Coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) (maximum/baseline flow velocity, 16 microg adenosine) was compared with dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) (5 to 40 microg/kg/min) to assess the progression of angiographically silent cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). As a reference for the morphologic assessment of CAV, serial intracoronary ultrasound (ICUS) measurements were performed. An increase in CFVR could be observed in all transplant patients despite morphologic or functional progression of CAV or non-progressive CAV as assessed by ICUS or DSE. Thus, serial intracoronary Doppler flow analysis is not useful to predict morphologic or functional progression of CAV.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Flow Velocity
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnostic imaging*
  • Disease Progression
  • Echocardiography, Doppler*
  • Echocardiography, Stress
  • Heart Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Ultrasonography, Interventional