Role of coronary artery calcium score in the preoperative evaluation of liver transplant candidates - 27/08/26

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Highlights |
• | Cardiovascular disease is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation, underscoring the need for robust pre-transplant risk stratification. |
• | Conventional cardiac risk scores and stress-based testing have limited performance in liver transplant candidates because of cirrhosis-related hemodynamic alterations and comorbidity burden. |
• | Coronary artery calcium score provides a rapid, non-contrast, low-radiation, and reproducible method for quantifying calcified atherosclerotic burden. |
• | In the general population, coronary artery calcium score improves atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk prediction beyond traditional risk factors and biomarkers. |
• | In liver transplant candidates, low or absent coronary calcium demonstrates strong negative predictive value and may help exclude clinically significant obstructive coronary artery disease. |
• | Elevated coronary artery calcium scores, particularly ≥400 Agatston units, are associated with increased perioperative and long-term major adverse cardiovascular events after liver transplantation. |
• | Coronary artery calcium score is best positioned as a triage or gatekeeper test rather than a standalone replacement for CCTA or invasive angiography. |
• | Integration of coronary artery calcium score into preoperative liver transplant evaluation may reduce unnecessary invasive testing while identifying candidates who require advanced anatomical assessment and cardiovascular optimization. |
Abstract |
Cardiovascular disease is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality among liver transplant candidates and recipients, reflecting the complex hemodynamic, inflammatory, metabolic, and renal disturbances associated with end-stage liver disease and the post-transplant period. Traditional cardiovascular risk assessment tools and stress tests screening modalities may perform suboptimally in this population, particularly because cirrhosis physiology and beta-blocker use may mask or alter ischemic responses. Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) has emerged as a noninvasive, reproducible, low-radiation method for assessing calcified coronary atherosclerotic burden and refining cardiovascular risk stratification. In the general population, CACS improves prediction of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease beyond traditional risk factors and has strong negative predictive value for obstructive coronary artery disease. In liver transplant candidates, available studies suggest that absent or mild coronary calcification can help identify patients at low risk for obstructive coronary disease, whereas elevated CACS, particularly scores ≥400 Agatston units, has been associated with higher post-transplant cardiovascular event risk. However, CACS has limitations as it does not detect non-calcified plaque, define stenosis severity, assess lesion functionality, or provide procedural planning information. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) remains superior for anatomical characterization and plaque assessment. Overall, CACS is best considered a gatekeeper test within preoperative liver transplant evaluation, complementing rather than replacing CCTA or invasive coronary angiography. Further research is needed to standardize CACS thresholds and define its optimal integration into transplant-specific cardiovascular risk algorithms.
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Keywords : liver transplantation, cirrhosis, coronary artery disease, cardiovascular risk, coronary artery calcium score, preoperative evaluation
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