Marcadores analíticos de enfermedad vascular del injerto en el trasplante cardiaco

Abstract

Graft vascular disease (GVD) affects over 40% of all heart transplant patients after 5 years of follow-up, and is the first cause of death after the first post-transplantation year. A study is made of the relationship between the concentrations of adiponectin and other cytokines and the development of GVD and its different degrees of severity. Material and methods: The study included 21 patients subjected to coronariography-intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for the diagnosis of GVD, with the determination of adiponectin levels. GVD was identified by coronariography in 10 patients and by IVUS in 14 patients. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in adiponectin levels according to the existence of GVD diagnosed by coronariography, or according to the severity of GVD as determined by IVUS. Statistically significant correlations were recorded between the presence of GVD diagnosed by IVUS and the concentrations of IL-6 (p=0.025), with higher IL-6 levels in those without GVD or with only mild GVD; and between the presence of GVD determined by coronariography and the levels of BNP (p=0.014) � higher levels of this protein being found in the patients with GVD. A relationship was observed between patient gender and adiponectin levels (p=0.025), with higher concentrations in women. A statistically significant relationship was seen between the appearance of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and the existence of GVD as diagnosed by coronariography (p=0.012)