Notice: Users may be experiencing issues with displaying some pages on stanfordhealthcare.org. We are working closely with our technical teams to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience.

Graft Coronary Artery Disease

Graft Coronary Artery Disease

Graft coronary artery disease, which causes blockages in the heart, is the leading cause of death after the first year of heart transplantation. You can help prevent this condition by taking your medication and using conventional heart-health practices.

These include controlling blood pressure and weight, maintaining a low-cholesterol diet, and doing a reasonable amount of exercise. During the first 5 years after your heart transplant, you will have an annual examination of your heart's blood vessels via a catheter inserted into the blood vessels. Blockages that can be reached by catheter may be removed or compacted with a balloon or a stent.

Learn more about coronary artery disease.