Electrocardiography scar quantification correlates with scar size of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy seen by multidetector computed tomography.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a genetically transmitted disease, is the most common genetic cardiovascular disease. Current strategies to stratify risk are expensive and concentrated in wealthy centers. Twelve-lead electrocardiography (ECG) is inexpensive, universally available, and can be readily used for Selvester QRS scoring, which estimates scar size.

Cardiorespiratory performance of coronary artery disease patients on land versus underwater treadmill tests: a comparative study.

Objective: To compare responses to a cardiopulmonary exercise test on land versus on an underwater treadmill, to assess the cardiorespiratory performance of coronary artery disease patients while immersed in warm water and to compare with the performance of healthy individuals.

Methods: The sample population consisted of 40 subjects, which included 20 coronary artery disease patients aged 63.7±8.

Alternatives to Aerobic Exercise Prescription in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure.

Background: Exercise is essential for patients with heart failure as it leads to a reduction in morbidity and mortality as well as improved functional capacity and oxygen uptake (v̇O2). However, the need for an experienced physiologist and the cost of the exam may render the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) unfeasible. Thus, the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and step test (ST) may be alternatives for exercise prescription.

Evaluation of prescription of exercise, for rehabilitation of coronary artery disease patients by myocardial scintigraphy.

Background: It is advisable that the intensity of the exercises for rehabilitation of patients with coronary artery disease does not cause myocardial ischemia.

Objective: Compare the capacity of myocardial tomographic scintigraphy with the electrocardiogram capacity in ischemia detection during rehabilitation session.

Methods: Twenty six patients with coronary artery disease, undergoing the rehabilitation program and with previous scintigraphy, with transient hypo-uptake have been administered a new injection of MIBI-Tc-99m during a training session when they were also monitored with dynamic electrocardiography.

Biological factors and overestimation of left ventricular ejection fraction by gated SPECT.

Background: Some patients present an overestimated left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on electrocardiogram-gated myocardial scintigraphy (gated SPECT).

Objective: To establish the relationship between biological factors and overestimated LVEF.

Methods: We selected 3838 patients who underwent gated SPECT between May 20, 2000 and September 16, 2005 with normal perfusion images and LVEF > or =50%.

Association between risk factors for coronary artery disease and coronary disease in patients undergoing myocardial perfusion scintigraphy.

Objectives: To establish the degree of association between cardiovascular risk factors and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in a group of patients undergoing myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS).

Methods: The study included 7183 patients who had undergone MPS. Using logistic regression analysis the odds ratios for the following risk factors were evaluated: age, gender, family history, body mass index, smoking, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus (DM) and systemic hypertension.

Indication of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy for coronary artery disease detection based on clinical-epidemiological and treadmill test evidences.

Objective: To establish when the myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) should be performed based on well-defined information obtained from treadmill test results and clinical-epidemiological parameters for coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: 2,100 patients who underwent MPS were classified according to the results of scintigraphy, the Duke score and a clinical-epidemiological score based on Framingham study. The patients with positive results on MPS were followed to define whether the results were true positives.

[Adenosine myocardial perfusion SPECT with Tc-99m-MIBI in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease: correlation between quantitative coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound measurements].

Objective: To correlate myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) with Tc-99m-MIBI and adenosine infusion using quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Methods: Seventy patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) referred for myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) with MIBI and adenosine were studied. Clinical, electrocardiographic (ECG), and scintigraphic findings were correlated with variables of visual and quantitative angiographic analysis, as well as to those of IVUS.

Clinical significance of transient left ventricular dilation assessed during myocardial Tc-99m sestamibi scintigraphy.

Objective: To assess the clinical significance of transient ischemic dilation of the left ventricle during myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with stress/rest sestamibi.

Methods: The study retrospectively analyzed 378 patients who underwent myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with stress/rest sestamibi, 340 of whom had a low probability of having ischemia and 38 had significant transient defects. Transient ischemic dilation was automatically calculated using Autoquant software.