201Tl myocardial perfusion in the management of the transplanted heart

A semi quantitative method with thallium has been applied in the management of cardiac transplants. In all, 142 scans were performed in 20 patients and were arranged in 3 groups that represent respectively all controls performed to the transplants (G1), and a selection of the scans obtained during t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEuropean journal of nuclear medicine Vol. 16; no. 3; p. 167
Main Authors Richter, J, Herreros, J, Serena, A, Domper, M, Ramirez, J C, Gómez, A, Arcas, R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Germany 1990
Subjects
Coronary Circulation
Graft Rejection - physiology
Heart - diagnostic imaging
Heart - physiology
Heart Transplantation - physiology
Humans
Radionuclide Imaging
Thallium Radioisotopes
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Summary:A semi quantitative method with thallium has been applied in the management of cardiac transplants. In all, 142 scans were performed in 20 patients and were arranged in 3 groups that represent respectively all controls performed to the transplants (G1), and a selection of the scans obtained during the 1st rejection episode in each patient (G2) and the 2nd if present (G3). A heart/lung index was calculated through early and late images (IA, IB), obtained 5 min and 4 h post injection of thallium. A decrease in IA was detected during acute rejection in all groups. This fall was statistically significant from the mild to moderate rejection degree in G1 (P less than 0.01), and the mild rejection in G3 (P less than 0.001). IB was not modified with rejection. Comparing the biopsies with and without edema, in the absence of rejection, it has been proved that the intra myocardial edema can produce a decrease in IA (P less than 0.001). We conclude that IA is a simple and sensitive index to evaluate the graft, although intra myocardial edema can reduce its specificity.
ISSN:0340-6997
DOI:10.1007/BF01146856