The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.
SMJ // Article
Editorial
The Role of Drug-Eluting Stents in Treating Cardiac Transplant Vasculopathy
Abstract
The paper by Garg et al1 in the present issue of this journal discusses the role of drug-eluting stents (DES) in cardiac transplant vasculopathy (CTV), also known as cardiac allograft vasculopathy. The authors report an interesting case of a postcardiac transplant patient with an atypical presentation who on coronary angiography was diagnosed to have diffuse multiple vessel disease suggestive of CTV. The patient underwent successful implantation of multiple DES at the areas of obstructive focal stenosis. On follow up, the patient's symptoms improved and coronary angiography at one year revealed patent stents. The data available from the Registry of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation suggests that over the past decade, first year survival of the heart transplant patient has improved; however, the long-term morbidity and mortality has remained unchanged.2 Thus, CTV continues to be a major therapeutic challenge, making its diagnosis essential.This content is limited to qualifying members.
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References
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