Abstract
Background and Objective: Transplant vasculopathy is a leading cause of late cardiac graft loss. We have examined laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy as an optical diagnostic tool for detection of intimal plaque development and inflammatory cellular invasion in a rat model of aortic allograft transplant. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Infrarenal aortic segments were transplanted from Lewis to Sprague Dawley rats. A range of vasculopathy development was produced by treatment with a viral anti- inflammatory protein. LIF spectra were recorded from the intima of aortic implants at 28 days. Fluorescence intensity was analyzed for correlation with vasculopathy development. Results: Significant differences in LIF intensity at 400-450 nm (P ≤ 0.05 by ANOVA) were detected. LIF emission was correlated with plaque growth (R2 = 0.980), vessel narrowing (R2 = 0.964), and cellular invasion (R2 = 0.971) by regression analysis. Conclusion: LIF optical analysis provides a nontraumatic diagnostic approach for detection of atherosclerosis prior to cardiac transplant or during development of vasculopathy after transplant.