INTRODUCTION: Myocardial reperfusion during the course of an acute myocardial infarction improves patients' short- and long-term prognosis; coronary blood flow is successfully re-established while preserving a large amount of at-risk muscle. Clinical evolution, however, varies. Presence of residual ischemia or viable myocardial tissue affects a patient's prognosis. Assessment by noninvasive methods allows better prognostic stratification. Cardiac-gated SPECT provides appropriate parameters to support treatment selection and monitoring of these patients. OBJECTIVES: Assess the prognostic value-ability to predict occurrence of major cardiac events-of perfusion and cardiac function obtained by myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in myocardial infarction patients treated by any myocardial reperfusion method, whether pharmacological or surgical. METHODS: Forty patients were included, mean age 58.8±9 years, diagnosed with myocardial infarction. Participants were divided into two groups: primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (15) or thrombolysis (25). All received myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with cardiac-gated SPECT to assess perfusion and left ventricular function, and were followed for six months with telephone interviews and review of clinical records. RESULTS: In the 11 patients who had major cardiac events within six months of followup, a nonsignificant increase in perfusion defect extent was seen post reperfusion. Six (54.5%) of those with major cardiac events had anterior perfusion defects. In functional parameters, a significant increase in end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes and decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction were observed post stress (p = 0.006) and at rest (p = 0.001). Post-stress end-diastolic volume of >70 mL had a higher prognostic value for major cardiac events [sensitivity 100%; specificity 89%, area under ROC curve 0.835 (CI 0.702-0.969), p = 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac-gated SPECT is useful to identify variables (including left ventricular systolic dysfunction and dilation of left cavities, particularly left end-systolic volume of >70 mL) predictive of major cardiac events in reperfused patients, independent of treatment modality.

The results of technetium 99m - methoxy-isobutyl-isonitril scintigraphy in a one-day protocol: rest - physical or combined stress (bicycle plus endovenoous dipiridamole) were compared with those of coronary angiography in 20 women referred for the evaluation of precordial pain and of the usefulness of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. The uptake of the radiodrug under stress and at rest varied from 93 ± 9 to 94 ± 7 % in the 204 segments with normal uptake under stress, from 67 ± 9 to 75 ± 17 % in the 89 with moderate reduction, and from 33 ± 9 to 64 ± 28 % in the 27 with severe reduction. The qualitative and quantitative uptake analyses coincided in 18 patients. The perfusion scintigraphy and the angiography agreed in 70 % of the patients. It was concluded that the myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with technetium 99-MIBI contributes to the diagnosis of the coronary artery disease in women.

Se compararon los resultados de la gammagrafía con tecnecio 99m- metoxi-isobutil-isonitrilo en protocolo de un día: reposo-estrés físico o combinado (bicicleta más dipiridamol endovenoso), con los de la angiografía coronaria, en 20 mujeres remitidas para evaluación de dolor precordial y de la utilidad de la gammagrafía de perfusión miocárdica en el diagnóstico de la enfermedad coronaria en la mujer. La captación del radiofármaco en estrés y reposo varió de: 93 ± 9 a 94 ± 7 % en los 204 segmentos con captación normal en estrés; 67 ± 9 a 75 ± 17 % en los 89 con moderada reducción y 33 ± 9 a 64 ± 28 % en los 27 con severa reducción. Los análisis cualitativo y cuantitativo de la captación coincidieron en 18 pacientes. La gammagrafía de perfusión y la angiografía concordaron en el 70 % de las pacientes. Se concluyó que la gammagrafía de perfusión miocárdica con Tc 99m-MIBI contribuye al diagnóstico de la enfermedad coronaria en mujeres.