J Korean Soc Transplant.  2001 Jun;15(1):114-118.

Acute Vascular Rejection 11 Months after Heart Transplantation

• Kim HW
• Seo JW
• Kim WH
• Kim YI
• Lee HS

Abstract

Vascular rejection injures the vascular endothelium in cardiac allografts in the absence of significant intramyocardial lymphocytic infiltration. When compared with cellular rejection, acute vascular rejection occurs earlier after transplantation, and is associated with high frequency of allograft loss. We describe a case of acute vascular rejection that occurred 11 months after heart transplantation. Graft failure was associated with active vasculitis in the coronary arteries and pericardial arteries, and extensive coagulation necrosis of myocardium. The extreme rarity of late onset of acute vascular rejection in a cardiac allograft prompted us to write this report.

Keyword

Vascular rejection; Heart; Transplantation; Vasculitis; Late onset

MeSH Terms

Allografts
Arteries
Coronary Vessels
Endothelium, Vascular
Heart Transplantation*
Heart*
Myocardium
Necrosis
Transplantation
Transplants
Vasculitis