Does cold ischemic injury accelerate the progression to chronic rejection in a rat cardiac allograft model?
The progression to chronic vasculopathy in this model is principally an immunologic process, which is accelerated by an ischemic insult to the allograft. The vascular injury is mediated in part by T cells and macrophages.
Findings suggest that in addition to screening for drinking behaviors, brief interventions and prevention efforts should assess perceived home access to alcohol and other race-specific factors to reduce alcohol-related injuries and harm.