Fatty acid myocardial imaging using 123I-β-methyl iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP)

To evaluate myocardial perfusion and fatty acid metabolism in canine myocardial infarction (occlusion and reperfusion model), 16 dogs were studied using thallium and 123I-β-methyliodophenyl pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP). There were 2 dogs with normal control, 8 dogs with left anterior coronary arterial occlusion (6 hr ligation) and 6 dogs with reperfusion (3 hr ligation and 1 hr reperfusion). BMIPP was considered as an excellent myocardial imaging agent, because of its higher uptake and longer retention in myocardium. Reperfused myocardium demonstrated marked prolongation of mean half-time value which was generated from BMIPP myocardial clearance curve. The gammacamera imaging of the excised heart showed the uncoupling of BMIPP and thallium (BMIPP uptake greater than thallium) in 5 of 6 dogs. On the other hand, BMIPP and thallium had persistent defect at occluded myocardium. These uncoupling at reperfused myocardium may be caused by the increase of triglyceride content. Our data suggests that the combination of BMIPP and thallium may supply different information about zone of infarction and ischemia and should be performed in clinical study for the assessment of myocardial viability. (author)