Predictive value of dobutamine radionuclide ventriculography in detection of functional improvement after acute anterior wall infarction and thrombolytic therapy.

Background: Prolonged postischemic ventricular dysfunction (stunned myocardium) may prevent the assessment of myocardial salvage early after thrombolysis. Dobutamine in conjunction with radionuclide ventriculography has been proposed for the early assessment of myocardial viability and prediction of functional recovery.

Hypothesis: This study was designed to investigate the effects of low-dose dobutamine infusion on early global and regional function of reperfused myocardium after acute anterior wall myocardial infarction (MI).

Prominent atrial wave and diastasis deflection in the radionuclide diastolic volume curve during exercise--sensitive marker for coronary artery disease.

It is well-known that many patients with coronary artery disease have reduced left ventricular diastolic distensibility with normal systolic function. However, researchers have to data focused on the diastolic rapid filling phase of the radionuclide volume curve in ischemic patients, paying less attention to the ensuing left ventricular filling associated with passive filling ('diastasis') and atrial contraction ('A' wave). We analyzed the radionuclide volume curves of 27 consecutive patients suspected ischemic heart disease, who manifested normal systolic function at rest and during exercise, as assessed by multigated equilibrium technetium-99m radionuclide cineangiography.

Dipyridamole first-pass radionuclide ventriculography: prediction of future cardiac events.

Dipyridamole thallium myocardial perfusion imaging is a useful alternative to stress testing in the diagnostic and prognostic assessment of patients with coronary artery disease. The diagnostic use of dipyridamole radionuclide ventriculography is much more controversial, but no long-term prognostic studies have been reported. Imaging results of 159 consecutive patients who were referred for dipyridamole first-pass radionuclide ventriculography were correlated with subsequent cardiac events over a mean follow-up period of 11 months.