Longitudinal analysis of fibroblast growth factor expression after transplantation and association with severity of cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

BACKGROUND Vascular smooth muscle cell growth factors are postulated to contribute to cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). Few data quantitatively address the timing, location, or stimuli for growth factor expression and relationship to CAV. METHODS AND RESULTS Acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) mRNA expression was determined in serial endomyocardial biopsies during the first year after transplantation. Patients with high levels of aFGF mRNA and elevations after the early posttransplant period had significantly more severe CAV than patients with low aFGF and no late elevations. CONCLUSIONS Parenchymal aFGF expression varies between patients and in the same patient over time and correlates with development of CAV.