Peripheral microvascular dysfunction is associated with plaque progression and adverse long‐term outcomes in heart transplant patients

Abstract Aims Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is the major cause of increased morbidity and mortality after heart transplantation. Peripheral endothelial dysfunction (PED) is associated with early atherosclerosis and future risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in non‐heart transplant population. We aimed to investigate the association of PED with future MACE, and plaque progression assessed by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) after heart transplantation. Methods and results We included 66 transplant patients who underwent serial IVUS surveillance for CAV and baseline assessment of peripheral endothelial function using reactive hyperaemia peripheral arterial tonometry. PED was defined as reactive hyperaemia index