Experiences with citrate rather than heparin as an anticoagulant for ¹⁸F-FDG labeling of leukocytes.

Unlabelled: In all reported clinical studies with (18)F-FDG-labeled leukocytes, heparin was used as an anticoagulant during labeling. Theoretically, the substitution of heparin with citrate should be advantageous.

Methods: Blood from healthy controls was sampled in duplicate, anticoagulated with citrate or heparin, and labeled with (18)F-FDG, and the labeling yield was measured.

Continued symptomatic improvement three to five years after transmyocardial revascularization with CO(2) laser: a late clinical follow-up of the Norwegian Randomized trial with transmyocardial revascularization.

Objectives: The goals of this study were to assess late clinical outcome and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after transmyocardial revascularization with CO(2) laser (TMR).

Background: During the 1990s TMR emerged as a treatment option for patients with refractory angina not eligible for conventional revascularization. Few reports exist on clinical effects and LVEF >3 years after TMR.