Detection of Fatal Coronary Arteriopathy in a Heart-Transplant Recipient by Intravascular Ultrasonography

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Abstract
Accelerated graft atherosclerosis characterized by obliterative neointimal proliferation of the coronary arteries is the leading cause of death beyond the first year after cardiac transplantation.1 The detection of accelerated graft atherosclerosis is difficult because of its diffuse, concentric nature and the lack of anginal symptoms in patients due to the absence of cardiac innervation. We have recently used intravascular ultrasonography to identify accelerated graft atherosclerosis in a patient when coronary arteriography was not diagnostic.