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Pilot study testing the effect of physical training over the myocardial perfusion and quality of life in patients with primary microvascular angina

  • Original Article
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Journal of Nuclear Cardiology Aims and scope

Abstract

Background

Primary microvascular angina (PMA) is a common clinical condition associated to negative impact on quality of life (QOL) and reduced physical capacity. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of aerobic physical training (APT) on myocardial perfusion, physical capacity, and QOL in patients with PMA.

Methods

We investigated 12 patients (53.8 ± 9.7 years old; 7 women) with PMA, characterized by angina, angiographycally normal coronary arteries, and reversible perfusion defects (RPDs) detected on 99mTc-sestamibi-SPECT myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS). At baseline and after 4 month of APT, the patients underwent MPS, cardiopulmonary test, and QOL questionnaire. Stress-rest MPS images were visually analyzed by attributing semi-quantitative scores (0 = normal; 4 = absent uptake), using a 17-segment left ventricular model. Summed stress, rest, and difference scores (SDS) were calculated.

Results

In comparison to the baseline, in the post-training we observed a significant increase in peak-VO2 (19.4 ± 4.8 and 22.1 ± 6.2 mL·kg−1·minute−1, respectively, P = .01), reduction of SDS (10.1 ± 8.8 and 2.8 ± 4.9, P = .008), and improvement in QOL scores.

Conclusions

Physical training in patients with PMA is associated with reduction of myocardial perfusion abnormalities, increasing of physical capacity, and improvement in QOL. The findings of this hypothesis-generating study suggest that APT can be a valid therapeutic option for patients with PMA.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a research grant from Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, No. 2008/04140-3).

Disclosure

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiology Division, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    Eduardo Elias Vieira de Carvalho PT, MS, Giovani Luiz Santi MD, MS, Júlio César Crescêncio MBSC, PhD, Luciano Fonseca Lemos de Oliveira PT, MS, Daniela Caetano Costa dos Reis PT, MS, Alexandre Baldini Figueiredo MD, MS, Antonio Osvaldo Pintya MD, PhD, Moyses Oliveira Lima-Filho MD, PhD, Lourenço Gallo-Júnior MD, PhD, José Antonio Marin-Neto MD, PhD & Marcus Vinícius Simões MD, PhD

  2. Cardiology Division, Internal Medicine Department, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

    Marcus Vinícius Simões MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Eduardo Elias Vieira de Carvalho PT, MS
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  2. Giovani Luiz Santi MD, MS
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  11. Marcus Vinícius Simões MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marcus Vinícius Simões MD, PhD.

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de Carvalho, E.E.V., Santi, G.L., Crescêncio, J.C. et al. Pilot study testing the effect of physical training over the myocardial perfusion and quality of life in patients with primary microvascular angina. J. Nucl. Cardiol. 22, 130–137 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12350-014-9949-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12350-014-9949-6

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