Positron emission tomography/computed tomography perfusion imaging with myocardial blood flow has diagnostic and prognostic value for cardiac allograft vasculopathy

Abstract Background Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). Invasive coronary angiography the traditional method screening for diagnosing CAV. Alternative non-invasive modalities have been sought to screen A small, single-center study utilizing Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Perfusion Imaging (PET/CT) stress myocardial blood flow (MBF) demonstrated good diagnostic prognostic value Purpose The purpose this was validate proposed algorithm prognosticating CAV by PET/CT MBF large contemporary series. Methods Patients history OHT no prior revascularization transplanted who underwent were included portion study. For MBF, only had within 12 months included. accuracy compared most recent angiogram. composite outcome death, failure hospitalization, acute syndrome, revascularization, re-transplantation used ability MBF. Results 450 scans performed 78 portion. Normal perfusion normal 100% negative predictive moderate-severe angiography. 2/3 positive 69% Over 24 months, there 20 events 39 PET grade versus 21 411 0/1 hazard ratio 13.3 (p<0.001). Conclusions current has excellent along detecting classification associated poor prognosis. Funding Acknowledgement Type funding sources: None.