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Monitoring of left ventricular ejection fraction with a miniature, nonimaging nuclear detector: Accuracy and reliability over time with special reference to blood labeling

  • Original Articles
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Journal of Nuclear Cardiology Aims and scope

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of determinations of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by a nonimaging miniature nuclear detector system (Cardioscint) and to evaluate the feasibility of long-term LVEF monitoring in patients admitted to the coronary care unit, with special reference to the blood-labeling technique.

Methods and Results

Cardioscint LVEF values were compared with measurements of LVEF by conventional gamma camera radionuclide ventriculography in 33 patients with a wide range of LVEF values. In 21 of the 33 patients, long-term monitoring was carried out for 1 to 4 hours (mean 186 minutes), with three different kits: one for in vivo and two for in vitro red blood cell labeling. The stability of the labeling was assessed by determination of the activity of blood samples taken during the first 24 hours after blood labeling. The agreement between Cardioscint LVEF and gamma camera LVEF was good with automatic background correction (r=0.82; regression equation y=1.04x+3.88) but poor with manual background correction (r=0.50; y=0.88x−0.55). The agreement was highest in patients without wall motion abnormalities. The long-term monitoring showed no difference between morning and afternoon Cardioscint LVEF values. Short-lasting fluctuations in LVEFs greater than 10EF units were observed in the majority of the patients. After 24 hours, the mean reduction in the physical decay-corrected count rate of the blood samples was most pronounced for the two in vitro blood-labeling kits (57%±9% and 41%±3%) and less for the in vivo blood-labeling kit (32%±26%). This “biologic decay” had a marked influence on the Cardioscint monitoring results, demanding frequent background correction.

Conclusion

A fairly accurate estimate of LVEF cn be obtained with the nonimaging Cardioscint system, and continuous bedside LVEF monitoring can proceed for hours with little inconvenience to the patients. Instability of the red blood cell labeling during long-term monitoring necessitates frequent background correction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Department B 2142, Rigshospitalet, National University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, DK 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Tommi Bo Lindhardt, Birger Hesse & Niels Gadsbøll

  2. Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Rigshospitalet, the National University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Tommi Bo Lindhardt, Birger Hesse & Niels Gadsbøll

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  1. Tommi Bo Lindhardt
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  2. Birger Hesse
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  3. Niels Gadsbøll
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Supported by grants from the Willy and Ingeborg Reinhard Foundation and the Danish Heart Foundation.

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Lindhardt, T.B., Hesse, B. & Gadsbøll, N. Monitoring of left ventricular ejection fraction with a miniature, nonimaging nuclear detector: Accuracy and reliability over time with special reference to blood labeling. J Nucl Cardiol 4, 147–155 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1071-3581(97)90064-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1071-3581(97)90064-7

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