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Effect of changes in perfusion defect size during serial regadenoson myocardial perfusion imaging on cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk patients

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Nuclear Cardiology Aims and scope

Abstract

Background

The prognostic value of single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is well established. There is a paucity of data on the prognostic value of changes in perfusion defect size (PDS) on serial MPIs.

Methods

From the MPI database at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, consecutive patients who underwent two regadenoson stress MPIs between July 2008 and March 2013 were identified. The MPIs were analyzed side-by-side using an automated software program for presence and change in PDS. Improvement in PDS was defined as a reduction ≥5% of left ventricle. A drop in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was defined as a decrease ≥5%. The primary outcome was a composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), and coronary revascularization (CR).

Results

There were 698 patients (61 ± 11 years, 53% male, 48% diabetes, 25% prior MI, 49% prior CR) who underwent two regadenoson MPIs within 16 ± 9 months for clinical indications. The primary outcome occurred in 167 (24%) patients (8% death, 9% MI, 15% CR) during 24 ± 16 months of follow-up after the second MPI. The MPIs were normal in both studies in 399 (57%, Group 1), showed improvement in 94 (14%, Group 2, PDS 15% ± 16% vs 28% ± 18%, P < .001) and no change or worsening in 205 patients (29%, Group 3, 28% ± 17% vs 20% ± 17%, P < .001). The best outcomes were seen in Group 1 and the worst in Group 3 (log-rank P < .001). Similar trends were seen for the components of the primary outcome (P = .04 for death, P < .001 for MI, P < .001 for CR). In a Cox-regression model that adjusted for baseline factors including PDS and LVEF on initial MPI, the hazard ratios for primary outcome were 2.0 (P = .02) and 3.9 (P < .001) for Groups 2 and 3 compared to Group 1, respectively. In addition, an LVEF drop ≥5% was independently associated with the primary outcome (HR 1.5, P = .01).

Conclusion

Changes in PDS and LVEF on serial MPIs provide incremental prognostic information to initial and follow-up MPI findings. Lack of improvement or an increase in PDS and a drop in LVEF identify high-risk patients.

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Abbreviations

CI:

Confidence intervals

CR:

Coronary revascularization

HR:

Hazard ratio

LVEF:

Left ventricular ejection fraction

MI:

Myocardial infarction

MPI:

Myocardial perfusion imaging

MT:

Medical therapy

PCI:

Percutaneous coronary intervention

PDS:

Perfusion defect size

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Disclosures

Drs. Hage and Iskandrian have received research grants from Astellas Pharma USA.

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Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Division of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Lyons Harrison Research Building 314, 1900 University BLVD, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA

      Stephanie El-Hajj MD, Ayman Farag MD, Steven Bleich MD, Padma Manaoragada MD, Ami E. Iskandrian MD, MACC, FASN & Fadi G. Hage MD, FASH, FACC

    2. Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

      Wael A. AlJaroudi MD, FACC, FAHA, FESC, FASNC

    3. Section of Cardiology, Birmingham Veterans Administration Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, USA

      Fadi G. Hage MD, FASH, FACC

    Authors
    1. Stephanie El-Hajj MD
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    2. Wael A. AlJaroudi MD, FACC, FAHA, FESC, FASNC
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    3. Ayman Farag MD
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    6. Ami E. Iskandrian MD, MACC, FASN
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    Correspondence to Fadi G. Hage MD, FASH, FACC.

    Additional information

    See related editorial, doi:10.1007/s12350-015-0171-y.

    Stephanie El-Hajj and Wael A. AlJaroudi have contributed equally to this study.

    All editorial decisions for this article, including selection of reviewers and the final decision, were made by guest editor Alberto Cuocolo, MD.

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    El-Hajj, S., AlJaroudi, W.A., Farag, A. et al. Effect of changes in perfusion defect size during serial regadenoson myocardial perfusion imaging on cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk patients. J. Nucl. Cardiol. 23, 101–112 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12350-015-0174-8

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