Low-Dose Dobutamine Radionuclide Ventriculography For Prediction Of Myocardial Viability: Quantitative Analysis Of Regional Left Ventricular Function

Background: It is important to distinguish viable myocardium from necrotic tissue in order to decide upon therapy in patients with ischemic heart disease.Hypothesis: We verified the hypothesis that quantitative analysis of regional left ventricular function using low-dose dobutamine radionuclide ventriculography (RNV) can sensitively predict myocardial Viability and compared its usefulness with thallium-201 (Tl-201) single-photon emission computed tomography (Tl-201-SPECT).Methods: Radionuclide ventriculography at rest and during low-dose dobutamine infusion (5 mu g/kg/min), Tl-201-SPECT, and coronary angiography were pet-formed in 51 subjects with severe ischemia-related stenosis of coronary arteries and 3 subjects without coronary artery disease. Tl-201 uptake was assessed as normal (control), low perfusion (LP), or defect. We compared the response of regional function to dobutamine with the regional Tl-201 uptake. The accuracy of both methods for identifying viable myocardium was investigated in 17 patients who underwent successful coronary revascularization, with a resulting improvement in wall motion.