ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Despite the link between positive coronary remodelling and acute ischaemic events, no data exist about the impact of arterial remodelling on subsequent progression of coronary atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to examine whether extent and direction of arterial remodelling are predictors of progression of coronary atherosclerosis. DESIGN, SETTING AND PATIENTS: From the Reversal of Atherosclerosis with Aggressive Lipid Lowering (REVERSAL) trial, 210 focal coronary lesions (single lesion per patient) were identified with Subject(s)
Coronary Artery Disease/diagnostic imaging
, Coronary Vessels/diagnostic imaging
, Ultrasonography, Interventional/methods
, Adult
, Aged
, Cholesterol, LDL/drug effects
, Cholesterol, LDL/metabolism
, Coronary Angiography/methods
, Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy
, Coronary Artery Disease/physiopathology
, Disease Progression
, Female
, Follow-Up Studies
, Humans
, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/therapeutic use
, Male
, Middle Aged
, Predictive Value of Tests
, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
, Treatment Outcome
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Long-term survival after heart transplantation is a desirable although challenging goal. METHODS: We analyzed clinical outcomes in the cohort of 170 patients who have undergone heart transplantation at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation and survived >10 years. RESULTS: We found 10-year and 15-year survival rates of 54% and 41%, respectively, in these patients, but there was also a high incidence of complications, such as hypertension, renal dysfunction, transplant vasculopathy, and malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term survival following cardiac transplantation is possible although complications are frequent. Beyond 10 years, malignancy is a major cause of death.
