BACKGROUND: A divergent pattern (DP) of the left ventricle (LV) is an expression of apical remodeling in myocardial perfusion gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). METHODS AND RESULTS: We consecutively studied 156 patients (mean age, 63 years; 24 women) with ICM (LV ejection fraction, < or =40%) using gated SPECT and technetium-labeled agents. Apical remodeling was considered to exist when a DP was observed. Apical remodeling was noted in 30% of patients, all of whom had a history of anterior myocardial infarction. A divergent pattern was observed more frequently in younger patients and in those with ST-segment elevation on their electrocardiograms. The longer the interval between the infarction and the performance of gated SPECT, the more prevalent were the LV dilatation and DP. A divergent pattern was associated with cardiac death and heart failure only in patients with scintigraphic criteria for myocardial viability. CONCLUSIONS: A divergent pattern in gated SPECT, as an expression of apical remodeling, can be observed in up to a third of patients with ICM, all with a history of anterior infarction. The longer the time between the infarction and the gated SPECT, the more prevalent the LV dilatation becomes. Apical remodeling is a variable predicts mortality in patients with scintigraphic criteria for viability.
BACKGROUND: A divergent pattern (DP) of the left ventricle (LV) is an expression of apical remodeling in myocardial perfusion gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). METHODS AND RESULTS: We consecutively studied 156 patients (mean age, 63 years; 24 women) with ICM (LV ejection fraction, < or =40%) using gated SPECT and technetium-labeled agents. Apical remodeling was considered to exist when a DP was observed. Apical remodeling was noted in 30% of patients, all of whom had a history of anterior myocardial infarction. A divergent pattern was observed more frequently in younger patients and in those with ST-segment elevation on their electrocardiograms. The longer the interval between the infarction and the performance of gated SPECT, the more prevalent were the LV dilatation and DP. A divergent pattern was associated with cardiac death and heart failure only in patients with scintigraphic criteria for myocardial viability. CONCLUSIONS: A divergent pattern in gated SPECT, as an expression of apical remodeling, can be observed in up to a third of patients with ICM, all with a history of anterior infarction. The longer the time between the infarction and the gated SPECT, the more prevalent the LV dilatation becomes. Apical remodeling is a variable predicts mortality in patients with scintigraphic criteria for viability.
Authors: Manuel D Cerqueira; Neil J Weissman; Vasken Dilsizian; Alice K Jacobs; Sanjiv Kaul; Warren K Laskey; Dudley J Pennell; John A Rumberger; Thomas Ryan; Mario S Verani Journal: Circulation Date: 2002-01-29 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: K H Peels; C A Visser; J H Dambrink; W Jaarsma; R P Wielenga; O Kamp; J H Kingma; W H van Glist Journal: Am J Cardiol Date: 1996-06-01 Impact factor: 2.778
Authors: J L Rouleau; J de Champlain; M Klein; D Bichet; L Moyé; M Packer; G R Dagenais; B Sussex; J M Arnold; F Sestier Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 1993-08 Impact factor: 24.094