Follow-up examination of 12 heart transplant recipients with cardiac CT.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to observe the changes of a transplanted heart with cardiac computed tomography (CT) and to evaluate the clinical application of the examination. METHODS: Cardiac CT was performed on 12 heart transplant recipients, of which 4 cases were also examined by echocardiography. Coronary arteries, the cardiac chamber, and the wall were shown with three-dimensional imaging techniques, and their changes were analyzed and discussed. RESULTS: Twelve heart transplant recipients were successfully examined by CT. All transplanted hearts were found with good anastomosis at the great vessels and atria. Coronary allograft vasculopathy was found in 7 cases, of which 4 cases were found with ventricular dilation or ventricular septum thickening and 1 with tricuspid regurgitation. Ventricular dilation was found in other 3 cases, of which 1 was found with ventricular septum thickening and 1 with tricuspid regurgitation. No abnormality was found by cardiac CT in the rest 2 cases, which were found with mitral regurgitation by echocardiography. CONCLUSION: Cardiac CT can clearly and directly display the changes in the shape of a transplanted heart and coronary artery abnormalities. It will become an ideal noninvasive follow-up method for the heart transplant recipients.