Studies on Tl-201 single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of myocardium in patients with ischemic heart disease

Seventy-six patients with IHD were divided into 2 groups, A) angina pectoris (n=50) and B) previous myocardial infarction(n=26). Each group was classified into three subgroups, without considering hypertension, that is 1) without complication, 2) with hypercholesterolemia, and 3) with diabetes mellitus. We studied and compared the findings of ECG, Echocardiogram (ECHO) and Emission CT (ECT) in these patients at rest. In the previous myocardial infarction group (Group B), we could find 100% ischemic patterns on ECG, 100% asynergy of either IVS or the posterior wall on ECHO and higher percentages of various grade of perfusion defects on ECT compared with group A. In group A, the percentages of perfusion defects were similar in three subgroups. But interestingly, in the hypercholesterolemic group, we could find diffuse moth-eaten like low perfusion areas on ECT. Further study is required whether this finding is peculiar for angina pectoris with hypercholesterolemia or an artifact on ECT. The percentage of ischemic patterns on ECG was lower than in the other groups. In angina pectoris with diabetes mellitus, asynergy in ECHO finding was a significantly higher percentage, compared with other groups. We believe, that ECG, ECHO and ECT are of compensatory importance in the diagnosis of patients with IHD. (author)