The effects of coronary angioplasty and reperfusion on distribution of myocardial flow.

To assess the effects of angioplasty (PTCA) and intracoronary streptokinase (ICSK) on relative myocardial perfusion, we administered 99mTc-macroaggregated albumin (MAA) to the uninvolved coronary artery before successful PTCA in 33 patients and before successful infusion of ICSK in eight patients and of 111In-MAA into the same vessel after the intervention. In 10 patients who underwent PTCA, MAA was injected into the involved, instrumented coronary artery. Computer-processed images were acquired in registry and compared. Similar scintigraphic studies were performed in six control patients and in 11 in whom planned interventions were not performed or were unsuccessful. Distribution of MAA was also compared with angiographic results and with the distribution of 201Tl on images obtained in patients at rest or on redistribution images obtained before and soon after intervention in 22 patients. In control patients and those studied after aborted or unsuccessful intervention, scintigraphic results showed excellent correlation with the angiographic anatomy and were without serial change. When MAA was injected into the uninvolved vessel, the scintigram revealed evidence of collateral perfusion with retraction of the perfusion zone from that of the involved coronary in 19 of 33 patients undergoing PTCA and in three of eight of those receiving ICSK. When MAA was injected into the involved artery, a relative increase in perfusion was seen in eight of 10 patients after PTCA. Although 30 patients demonstrated scintigraphic evidence of collateral vessels, only 10 patients had angiographic evidence of collateral circulation before intervention. The distribution of 201Tl demonstrated little change in its global pattern and regions previously supplied by collaterals were generally well perfused after intervention. Coronary collateral perfusion may be inapparent angiographically and regress rapidly after angioplasty or reperfusion. Native perfusion is generally and quickly restored after successful PTCA or ICSK infusion, which obviates the need for collaterals. After intervention, the distribution of total perfusion may not change, but its regional source may demonstrate beneficial alterations, shifting from collateral to native circulation.