Progressive aortic root dilatation in pediatric heart transplant recipients.

During intermediate follow-up, ARD commonly develops in children post-heart transplant, and prevalence increases with time after transplant. Within 1 year after transplant, almost 50% had developed abnormalities in aortic root size that were not apparent at the initial posttransplant echocardiogram. Preexisting CHD or need for prior arch reconstruction did not increase the risk of ARD.