What does CAV mean in CARDIOLOGY

CAV is caused by inflammation in the walls of the blood vessels that have been transplanted with a heart or other organ. This inflammation leads to deposition of cholesterol-like substances which eventually leads to thickening and hardening of the vessel walls.

CAV may not always be symptomatic but when it is, diagnosis usually requires either radiographic imaging or biopsy. Imaging such as ultrasound, MRI or CT scans may be used to look for signs of narrowing or obstruction in the affected blood vessel(s). Biopsy involves taking a sample from inside a vessel wall for further evaluation under a microscope by a pathologist.

Yes, there are treatments available for CAV, although many are still experimental. These treatments include medications such as anti-inflammatory agents and cholesterol-lowering drugs, lifestyle modifications such as smoking cessation and diet modification, interventional procedures such as angioplasty or stenting, and surgical procedures such as bypass grafting or even re-transplantation if necessary.

People who have had an organ transplant are most susceptible to developing CAV due to their weakened immune systems. Other factors which increase risk include tobacco use before or after transplantation, older donor age, diabetes mellitus, high body mass index (BMI), systemic hypertension (high blood pressure), elevated serum creatinine (a marker of kidney function) levels prior to transplantation, previous rejection episodes post-transplantation, abnormal lipid profile pre/post-transplantation and presence of donor specific antibodies pre/post-transplantation.

Possible complications from CAV include chest pain/angina pectoris due to decreased blood flow through narrowed coronary arteries; congestive heart failure due to decreased cardiac output; arrhythmia; stroke due to blockage in cerebral arteries; kidney failure from decreased perfusion; peripheral vascular disease caused by atherosclerosis in lower extremity arteries among others.