Noninvasive Predictors of Transplant Vasculopathy

Post transplant vasculopathy is a major negative outcome in heart transplantation. Current methods of detection are highly invasive and pose a risk to transplant recipients. Noninvasive markers of endothelial function can be used to detect transplant vasculopathy. Endothelial biomarkers such as: endothelial nitric oxide synthase, vascular cellular adhesion molecules, intracellular adhesion molecules, endothelin-1, thromboplastin, circulating endothelial cells, uric acid, and C-reactive play a role in the pathophysiologic mechanism of vasculopathy. Therefore, the investigators would like to assess the association between various endothelial biomarkers and the presence or absence of transplant vasculopathy.