Reverse perfusion pattern in myocardial spect with 99mTc-SestaMIBI

RATIONALE The aim of our study was to investigate the myocardial perfusion deficit in rest images as compared to stress images in myocardial scintigraphy (MS). OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to investigate the reverse perfusion (RP) pattern in MS. METHODS AND RESULTS 263 patients were enrolled in the study (72 females and 191 males; mean age 65.7 ± 9.5 years old). Mean body mass index (BMI) was of 27.6 ± 3.8 Kg/m2. 115 patients were positive for a previous history of myocardial infarction (MI). 142 patients reported a revascularization treatment (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, PTCA, cardiac stent placement, coronary artery bypass grafting, CABG). All the patients underwent MS following standard single day Stress/Rest protocol. In our series, 27 patients presented a RP pattern. We did not find statistically significant differences when considering age (p = 0.7988), sex (p = 0.0657), BMI (p = 0.8611), diabetes (p = 0.8259), dyslipidemia (p = 0.1464) or smoking status (p = 0.6829) in RP patients vs. non-RP patients. A history of MI is related to a RP pattern (p < 0.0001). A history of previous revascularization was not related with RP (p = 0.6868). DISCUSSION The result of our study suggested that RP is probably related to artifacts of various origins. Further studies are necessary especially in microvascular dysfunction or a long history of disease.