Gender-related differences in side-effects and hemodynamic response to regadenoson in patients undergoing SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging.

Purpose: To evaluate differences in side-effects and hemodynamic response between men and women undergoing regadenoson-stress SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI).

Methods: The initial population of the study included 858 consecutive patients who underwent regadenoson-stress MPI at our institution. These patients underwent prospective assessment and classification of regadenoson-induced side-effects in six categories and recording of heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) before and after regadenoson administration.

Long-term prognostic implications of myocardial perfusion imaging in octogenarians: an all-comer, cohort study.

Purpose: Evaluation of the long-term prognostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in octogenarians.

Methods: Six hundred and twenty-nine octogenarians [51% previous myocardial infarction (MI) or revascularization] who underwent single-isotope MPI (78% Tl, 22% Tc-tetrofosmin) with exercise (38% Bruce, 2% leg ergometry) or pharmacologic (58% adenosine, 2% dobutamine) stress were studied. All patients had LVEF determined by echocardiography within 1 month from MPI.

Adenosine stress myocardial perfusion imaging in octogenarians: Safety, tolerability, and long-term prognostic implications of hemodynamic response and SPECT-related variables.

Background: Evaluation of tolerability, safety, and prognostic implications of adenosine stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in octogenarians.

Methods: 370 octogenarians (49% known coronary artery disease) were studied. Hemodynamic response, MPI-related data, and rest-left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) based on echocardiography were registered per patient, and prospective follow-up was performed to document all-cause death (ACD), cardiac death (CD), myocardial infarction (MI), and late revascularization.

Fast myocardial perfusion imaging with Tc in challenging patients using conventional SPECT cameras.

Background: We attempted to validate the performance of a fast myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) protocol in diagnostically challenging patients.

Methods: 78 patients with ΒΜΙ > 24.9, LVH or three vessels disease underwent two sequential gated-MPI studies.

Risk stratification for large artery or chronic coronary artery disease-related ischemic stroke in octogenarians undergoing exercise stress myocardial perfusion imaging: A cohort study.

Objectives: To test, if in octogenarians, treadmill exercise with myocardial perfusion imaging (exercise-MPI) can risk stratify for large artery or chronic CAD-related ischemic stroke (LACCIS).

Methods: Exercise-MPI-related data of 237 octogenarians (55% prior MI or revascularization) without previous stroke were registered and prospective follow-up was performed to document LACCIS. LACCIS was defined as acute onset of neurological symptoms with CT/MRI findings of non-lacunar-type infarcts in the absence of atrial fibrillation or intracardiac embolic sources.

Long-term prognostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging in octogenarians able to undergo treadmill exercise stress testing.

Background: Although the use of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) for prognostic purposes in general population is well understood, its role in very elderly patients is not extensively studied.

Methods: 247 octgogenarians (79% male, 56% previous myocardial infarction-MI or revascularization) who underwent treadmill exercise testing (TET) with MPI were studied. TET and MPI-related data were registered per patient and prospective follow-up was performed to document all cause death (ACD), cardiac death (CD), non-fatal MI, and late revascularization (LR).

Prognostic value of the Duke treadmill score in octogenarians undergoing myocardial perfusion imaging.

Objectives/background: Although Duke treadmill score (DTS) is the most widely used risk stratification method in younger patients undergoing exercise treadmill test (ETT) its specific value in the elderly is not established.

Methods: 137 patients aged ≥80 years who underwent ETT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) were studied. DTS and MPI (including summed stress scores, SSS) related data were registered per patient and follow up was performed to document cardiac death (CD), myocardial infarction (MI) and late (>3 months) revascularization (LR).

Bone marrow stem cell adherence into old anterior myocardial infarction: a scintigraphic study using Tl-201 and Tc-99m-HMPAO.

Aim: The precise localization of bone marrow stem cells (SCs) into the necrotic tissue after intracoronary infusion (ICI) may be important for the therapeutic outcome. This study aims to examine the correlation between Tl-201 and Tc-99m-hexa-methyl-propylene-amine-oxime (HMPAO) images.

Methods: Thirteen patients, aged 36-62 years, with an old, nonviable, anterior myocardial infarction (MI) and reduced myocardial contractility (LVEF <40%), underwent ICI of selected CD133(+) and CD133(neg)CD34(+) SCs.

Disorders of the autonomic nervous system in patients with Brugada syndrome: a pilot study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine autonomic disorders in patients with Brugada syndrome by performing a cardiac sympathetic innervation evaluation, a head-up tilt-test (HUT) and heart rate variability (HRV) analysis.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 20 patients with Brugada syndrome (mean age 42.5 +/- 8.

Stress test with dual isotope studies for the documentation of classical ischemic preconditioning.

Objectives: We investigated whether myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) can demonstrate the effect of classical preconditioning.

Methods: 21 patients with documented coronary artery disease (stenosis>or=70%) underwent two exercise stress tests (EST) with concomitant MPI, using TL-201 for the first and tetrofosmin-Tc-99m for the second. A third MPI was performed at rest, using Tc-99m.

Treadmill exercise test with dual isotope scintigraphy documents the second window of preconditioning in humans.

Background: In experimental studies, two windows of preconditioning have been identified, one lasting 1-2h and a second one (SWOP) starting 24h later and lasting 3-4 days. We sought to document SWOP in humans, using scintigraphy as an objective method of imaging.

Methods: Nineteen male patients, aged 62+/-7 years with documented coronary artery disease underwent two treadmill exercise tests (at baseline and 30 h later) and three tomographic perfusion studies (during the first exercise test, during the redistribution phase 4 h later and during the second exercise test 30 h later) with two different isotopes.

Correlation between R wave amplitude, exercise ischemic electrocardiographic indices and thallium-201 imaging defects in patients with known coronary artery disease.

We investigated the relation between R wave amplitude (RWA) and ST depression as well as the presence and extent of reversible ischemia in thallium-201 scanning in patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD) and found that RWA both at rest and during exercise testing (ET) correlates with the magnitude of ST depression in the same leads. Greater ST changes appear on leads with highest RWA. Thus lead selection strongly influences interpretation of ECG ischemic changes during ET in patients with CAD.

Intracoronary infusion of CD133+ and CD133-CD34+ selected autologous bone marrow progenitor cells in patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy: cell isolation, adherence to the infarcted area, and body distribution.

Central issues in intracoronary infusion (ICI) of bone marrow (BM)-cells to damaged myocardium for improving cardiac function are the cell number that is feasible and safe to be administrated as well as the retention of cells in the target area. Our study addressed these issues in eight patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing ICI of selected BM-progenitors. We could immunomagnetically isolate 0.