BACKGROUND: The presence of complete left bundle branch block (LBBB) is commonly associated with a poorer prognosis, especially in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). In the general population with suspected CAD and normal intraventricular conduction, a normal dipyridamole-thallium scintigraphy is a strong marker of a favorable outcome. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess the prognosis in patients with LBBB and a normal dipyridamole thallium-201 scintigram. POPULATION AND METHODS: Patients with complete LBBB and normal myocardial perfusion on dipyridamole SPECT thallium-201 scintigraphy performed in our center for suspected CAD between 1988 and 1995 were monitored for clinical events. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients (36 women and 33 men) with a mean age of 59 years (range 56 to 61) were monitored for a mean period of 33 months (range 25 to 35). During this period, 4 patients had unstable angina, 2 of whom underwent myocardial revascularization. There were no deaths or myocardial infarction. All events occurred at least 2 years after the thallium-201 scintigraphy. CONCLUSION: The presence of a normal myocardial perfusion with dipyridamole thallium-201 scintigraphy in this group of patients with suspected CAD and LBBB was associated with a very good prognosis, a low rate of clinical events occurring only 2 years after the myocardial scintigraphy, and no hard events.
BACKGROUND: The presence of complete left bundle branch block (LBBB) is commonly associated with a poorer prognosis, especially in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). In the general population with suspected CAD and normal intraventricular conduction, a normal dipyridamole-thallium scintigraphy is a strong marker of a favorable outcome. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess the prognosis in patients with LBBB and a normal dipyridamole thallium-201 scintigram. POPULATION AND METHODS: Patients with complete LBBB and normal myocardial perfusion on dipyridamole SPECT thallium-201 scintigraphy performed in our center for suspected CAD between 1988 and 1995 were monitored for clinical events. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients (36 women and 33 men) with a mean age of 59 years (range 56 to 61) were monitored for a mean period of 33 months (range 25 to 35). During this period, 4 patients had unstable angina, 2 of whom underwent myocardial revascularization. There were no deaths or myocardial infarction. All events occurred at least 2 years after the thallium-201 scintigraphy. CONCLUSION: The presence of a normal myocardial perfusion with dipyridamole thallium-201 scintigraphy in this group of patients with suspected CAD and LBBB was associated with a very good prognosis, a low rate of clinical events occurring only 2 years after the myocardial scintigraphy, and no hard events.
Authors: H Sugihara; N Tamaki; M Nozawa; T Ohmura; Y Inamoto; Y Taniguchi; E Aoki; K Mitsunami; M Kinoshita Journal: J Nucl Med Date: 1997-04 Impact factor: 10.057
Authors: D S Berman; R Hachamovitch; H Kiat; I Cohen; J A Cabico; F P Wang; J D Friedman; G Germano; K Van Train; G A Diamond Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 1995-09 Impact factor: 24.094
Authors: K A Brown; C A Boucher; R D Okada; T E Guiney; J B Newell; H W Strauss; G M Pohost Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 1983-04 Impact factor: 24.094
Authors: Yves G C J America; Jeroen J Bax; Eric Boersma; Marcel Stokkel; Ernst E van der Wall Journal: J Nucl Cardiol Date: 2007-01 Impact factor: 5.952
Authors: Yves G C J America; Jeroen J Bax; Eric Boersma; Marcel Stokkel; Ernst E van der Wall Journal: J Nucl Cardiol Date: 2009-01-20 Impact factor: 5.952