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Biomedical subjects

A S Iskandrian

Publications and source records attributed to A S Iskandrian.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Mechanism of exercise-induced hypotension in coronary artery disease.

Hypotension during exercise testing has been considered a marker of extensive coronary artery disease (CAD) and poor prognosis. The mechanism of hypotension was examined in 25 CAD patients who developed hypotension during treadmill exercise testing (mean decrease in systolic blood pressure [BP] 33 +/- 13 mm Hg) (group 1) and was compared with the results of 25 CAD patients who had a normal systolic BP response to exercise (mean increase 53 +/- 15 mm Hg) (group 2). The 2 groups were comparable in age, sex, extent of CAD, previous myocardial infarction, left ventricular ejection fraction, history of hypertension and cardiac medications. Exercise heart rate (121 +/- 23 vs 133 +/- 25 beats/min; p = not significant [NS]) and duration (6 +/- 2 vs 7 +/- 3 minutes; p = NS) were comparable. ST-segment depression occurred in 44% of patients in group 1 and in 52% in group 2 (p = NS), and angina during exercise occurred in 60% of both groups. Single-photon emission computed tomographic thallium images were abnormal in 24 patients (96%) in group 1 and in 20 patients (80%) in group 2 (p = NS). Percent thallium abnormality was 19 +/- 12% in group 1, and 18 +/- 14% in group 2 (p = NS), and the severity of thallium abnormality was 710 +/- 510 in group 1, and 510 +/- 500 in group 2 (p = NS). Ischemia involving the inferior/posterior segments was seen in 68% of patients in group 1 and in 60% in group 2 (p = NS). Increased lung thallium uptake was seen in 48% of both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

The perfusion pattern in coronary artery occlusion: comparison of exercise and adenosine.p6.

This study compared exercise to adenosine thallium-201 single photon emission computed tomography in detecting occlusion of left anterior descending or right coronary arteries in patients with no previous myocardial infarction. There were 41 patients who underwent adenosine thallium imaging (adenosine infusion at a rate of 140 micrograms/kg/min for 6 min), and 143 patients who underwent exercise thallium imaging. There were more patients with right coronary than left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. Thus, in the adenosine group, there were 15 patients with left anterior descending artery occlusion, and 26 with right coronary artery occlusion, and in the exercise group, there were 46 patients with left anterior descending artery occlusion, and 97 patients with right coronary artery occlusion. In the adenosine group, the thallium images were abnormal in 41 patients (100%), while in the exercise group, the thallium images were abnormal in 125 patients (87%, P < 0.02) in the territories of the occluded arteries. ST segment depression was noted in 19 patients (46%) in the adenosine group, and 69 patients (48%) in the exercise group (P:NS). In patients with isolated single vessel occlusion, the size of the perfusion abnormality was 28 +/- 9% with adenosine, and 21 +/- 12% with exercise (P:NS). Thus, most patients with occlusion of the left anterior descending or right coronary artery have regional perfusion abnormality during stress; the different role of collaterals with each type of stress may explain the higher percentage of abnormal results with adenosine than exercise.

Adenosine

Technetium-labeled myocardial imaging agents.

99mTc sestamibi and 99mTc teboroxime has unique features that differ from thallium-201 in dosimetry, energy, cellular transport, extraction fraction, retention, washout, and imaging protocols. Sestamibi is ideal for gated and SPECT imaging while SPECT imaging with a multi-head detector system is preferred for teboroxime. Both permit simultaneous assessment of perfusion and function using first-pass radionuclide angiography. This paper discusses the special features and clinical applications of these two technetium agents.

Coronary Disease

The treadmill exercise score revisited: coronary arteriographic and thallium perfusion correlates.

The treadmill exercise score has been used to stratify patients into low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups. This score is derived from ST segment depression, angina, and exercise duration. To determine the coronary arteriographic and exercise thallium perfusion correlates of the score, we examined the extent of coronary artery disease and exercise single photon emission computed thallium-201 results in 834 patients for whom cardiac catheterization data were available. Of those, 174 had no coronary artery disease, 195 had one-vessel, 246 had two-vessel, and 219 had three-vessel disease. Based on the treadmill exercise score, 369 were in the low-risk, 384 in the moderate-risk, and 81 in the high-risk group. The extent of coronary artery disease was 2.1 +/- 1 diseased vessels in the high-risk, 1.7 +/- 1 in the moderate, and 1.4 +/- 1.1 in the low-risk group (p < 0.01). The extent of the thallium abnormality (maximum number of abnormal segments 120/patient) was 10 +/- 6 in the high-risk, 7 +/- 6 in the moderate, and 6 +/- 5 in the low-risk group (p < 0.05). Based on the extent of coronary artery disease and results of thallium imaging, patients were reclassified into three groups: group 1 had three-vessel disease and/or > or = 10 abnormal segments (n = 387), group 3 had no coronary artery disease or one-vessel disease and less than five abnormal segments (n = 212), and the remaining patients were in group 2 (n = 235).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged

Single photon emission computed tomographic teboroxime imaging with a preprocessing masking technique.

We previously reported that single-head SPECT imaging with teboroxime is feasible. However, excessive hepatic uptake in some patients may interfere with image interpretation. This study examined the feasibility of improving image quality by use of a preprocessing masking technique to subtract hepatic activity. A band of 10 pixels in width adjacent to the inferior cardiac silhouette was marked on the raw planar images, and then SPECT reconstruction was done with the Butterworth filter with a frequency cutoff of 0.3 cycles/cm and the power of 10. The stress and rest images were compared before and after masking in 10 patients who underwent SPECT teboroxime imaging during adenosine-induced coronary hyperemia (140 micrograms/kg/min for 6 minutes). SPECT imaging with a single-head detector was performed with the use of a 180-degree anterior arc (from the 45-degree left posterior oblique projection to the 45-degree right anterior oblique projection); 32 images at 8 seconds per stop were obtained (total imaging time = 6.8 minutes). All images were considered subjectively better after the masking technique was used, especially for assessment of inferior wall perfusion pattern. The maximum count in any pixel was in the hepatic region of interest before masking and in the cardiac region of interest after masking (303 +/- 110 counts vs 166 +/- 55 counts; p < 0.001). The difference was especially pronounced in the images that were obtained when patients were at rest (366 +/- 102 counts vs 184 +/- 64 counts; p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine

Side effects during adenosine thallium imaging with single-port or double-port infusion protocols.

The double-port infusion protocol during adenosine thallium imaging involves the use of two infusion systems, one for adenosine and one for thallium. The single-port infusion protocol, on the other hand, uses one infusion system; both adenosine and thallium are injected via a "Y" connection. This study examined the possibility that the single infusion system, by displacing a column of blood filled with adenosine, may be responsible for a greater incidence of side effects. In a parallel study, 140 patients underwent adenosine thallium imaging with the single-port system (group 1) and 140 patients underwent imaging with the double-port system (group 2). Both groups were comparable in age (67 +/- 10 years vs 64 +/- 11 years), gender (men comprised 56% of patients in group 1 and 64% in group 2), resting heart rate, and systolic blood pressure. More patients in group 1 had chest pains (57% vs 44%; p = 0.03), ST-segment depression (25% vs 9%; p = 0.005), nausea (11% vs 4%; p = 0.04), and second- or third-degree atrioventricular block (11% vs 5%; p less than 0.08) than did patients in group 2. The other side effects were similar, and peak heart rate and peak systolic blood pressure were also similar. The thallium images that used single-photon emission computed tomography were abnormal in 61% of patients in group 1 and in 65% of patients in group 2 (p = not significant).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine

The clinical relevance of myocardial viability in patient management.

This study examined the importance of viability as a clinical issue in 532 patients with angiographically proven CAD who underwent exercise SPECT thallium imaging. Conventional 4-hour delayed images were used to differentiate scar tissue from ischemia (20 segments per patient). There were 90 patients (17%) with normal images, 274 patients (52%) with reversible defects only, and 168 patients (31%) with scar tissue either with or without associated ischemia. The patients with scar tissue were subdivided according to the number of segments with fixed defects and the number of additional reversible defects. There were 114 patients with scar tissue alone or more scar tissue than ischemia. Contrast ventriculography in these 114 patients revealed normal wall motion or ejection fraction in 50 patients. On the basis of results of thallium imaging alone, the issue of viability was probably significant in 114 patients (21%); however, when the ventriculographic data were also included, the issue was significant in only 64 patients (12%) (p < 0.001). Thus myocardial viability is an important issue in 21% of patients with CAD when conventional thallium imaging is used, but this percentage decreases to 12% when wall motion and ejection fraction data are also included. These data may be important in considerations for the need of metabolic imaging and emerging scintigraphic techniques.

Aged

Differentiation between primary dilated cardiomyopathy and ischemic cardiomyopathy based on right ventricular performance.

The differentiation of primary dilated cardiomyopathy from ischemic cardiomyopathy, though important, is difficult clinically and may require coronary angiography or metabolic imaging. Both patient groups have severe left ventricular dysfunction and severe wall motion abnormality. This study examined the differences in right ventricular performance between the two groups. There were 90 patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction less than 30% who had coronary angiography and multigated radionuclide angiography (MUGA). Of these, 69 had ischemic cardiomyopathy and 21 had primary cardiomyopathy. The left ventricular ejection fraction was similar; 22 +/- 6% in ischemic cardiomyopathy and 21 +/- 6% in primary cardiomyopathy. However, the right ventricular ejection fraction was higher in ischemic cardiomyopathy (38 +/- 16% versus 29 +/- 12%, p less than 0.01). There were 59 patients with right ventricular ejection fraction greater than or equal to 30%, of whom 50 patients (85%) had ischemic cardiomyopathy. The left ventricular and right ventricular volumes were determined by a count-based method. The right ventricular end-diastolic volume/left ventricular end-diastolic volume ratio was 0.57 in ischemic cardiomyopathy and 1.07 in primary cardiomyopathy (p less than 0.05). Thus assessment of right ventricular function may help differentiate primary from ischemic cardiomyopathy; a preserved right ventricular performance is highly suggestive of ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Cardiac Catheterization

Atrioventricular block during adenosine thallium imaging.

Transient atrioventricular (AV) block has been reported during adenosine thallium imaging. This study examined the predictors and hemodynamic implications in 55 patients who had second- or third-degree AV block (group 1) and compared the results with those in 803 patients who did not have AV block (group 2). There were no significant differences in age, sex, or heart rate at baseline between the two groups. ST segment depression was observed in 25% of patients in group 1 and 16% in group 2 (p = NS). Chest pain occurred in 56% in group 1 and 44% in group 2 (p = NS). Preexisting conduction abnormalities (17% vs 16%) and treatment with digitalis (15% vs 15%) and beta-blockers (31% vs 36%) were similar in the two groups. The results of thallium imaging were abnormal in 66% in group 1 and 67% in group 2 (p = NS). Reversible thallium defects were seen in 51% in group 1 and 52% in group 2 (p = NS). The AV block appeared during the first 2 minutes of infusion in 40 patients (73%) and disappeared despite continuation of infusion in 43 (78%). The heart rate during AV block was 79 +/- 18 beats/min, and the systolic blood pressure was 127 +/- 27 mm Hg. Premature termination of adenosine infusion was required in one patient (2%). Aminophylline was used in 5% in group 1 and 2% in group 2 (p = NS). Thus AV block is transient, occurs during the early minutes of infusion, is not aggravated by digitalis or beta-blocker therapy, can be seen in patients with normal perfusion images, and is often well tolerated.

Adenosine

Tomographic myocardial perfusion imaging with technetium-99m teboroxime during adenosine-induced coronary hyperemia: correlation with thallium-201 imaging.

Single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging with technetium-99m teboroxime during exercise has been found to be feasible and the results correlate with those obtained with thallium-201. This study examined the feasibility of this technique and compared tomographic imaging with technetium-99m teboroxime during adenosine-induced coronary hyperemia with thallium-201 imaging. With the patient positioned on the imaging table, adenosine was infused at a rate of 140 micrograms/kg per min for 6 min. At 4 min, 20 to 25 mCi (740 to 925 MBq) of technetium-99m teboroxime was injected intravenously and imaging was started as soon as the infusion was completed with use of a 180 degrees anterior arc and 32 stops at 10 s/stop (total imaging time 7.8 min). Rest images were obtained 60 to 90 min later with use of a similar dose of technetium-99m teboroxime. Exercise tomographic thallium images were obtained within 2 weeks of the teboroxime studies. In the 20 patients studied, the teboroxime images were normal in 2 (50%) of 4 normal subjects and abnormal in 15 (94%) of 16 patients with coronary artery disease; 4 of the 15 had a fixed defect and 11 a reversible defect. There was agreement between teboroxime and thallium studies in 16 patients (80%), in 319 (80%) of 400 segments and in 50 (83%) of 60 vascular segments (p less than 0.05). In two normal subjects, an apparent fixed defect involving the inferior wall was seen on the teboroxime but not the thallium images and was thought to be due to an attenuation artifact secondary to extracardiac activity in the left lobe of the liver.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine

Importance of intraluminal pressure on hemodynamics and vasoconstriction responses of stenotic arteries.

BACKGROUND: Clinical and morphological studies clearly indicate that most human coronary artery stenoses are capable of vasomotion. Variable ischemic thresholds, ischemia unrelated to work load, and variant angina further show the presence and importance of vasoconstriction in coronary artery stenosis. Despite the importance of vasoconstriction, the effect of intraluminal pressure on the hemodynamic response to vasoconstrictors has not yet been examined. Intraluminal pressure is a primary determinant of vessel size and the force opposing vasoconstriction. Accordingly, we examined the effects of intraluminal pressure on the hemodynamic response to norepinephrine (NE)-induced vasoconstriction. METHODS AND RESULTS: In canine carotid arteries perfused with physiological salt solution, pressures at the proximal and distal ends of the artery, as well as flow, were continuously recorded. We altered intraluminal pressure using three diverse interventions: changes in perfusion pressure, decreasing distal resistance, and collaterals. In normal, nonstenotic arteries, NE decreased the external vessel diameter but did not reduce flow. Perfusion pressure changes did not affect the ED50 of the NE-diameter relation. After an intraluminal stenosis was created, NE-induced constriction decreased flow. The threshold concentration of NE needed to decrease flow decreased as the perfusion pressure decreased (38.5 +/- 17.9, 2.3 +/- 1.3, and 0.12 +/- 0.1 x 10(-7) mol/l for 125, 100, and 75 mm Hg of perfusion pressure, respectively; p less than 0.05). Lowering distal resistance decreased stenotic pressure and decreased the threshold NE concentration from 5.4 +/- 1.9 to 0.34 +/- 0.2 x 10(-7) mol/l (p less than 0.05), and increasing stenotic pressure with collaterals increased the threshold NE concentration from 2.6 +/- 1.4 to 7.5 +/- 4.6 x 10(-7) mol/l (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In stenotic arteries, interventions that lowered the intraluminal pressure decreased the threshold NE concentration needed to decrease flow, and interventions that raised the intraluminal pressure increased the threshold NE concentration. This pressure-dependent constrictor sensitivity affects the vasomotor tone and is important in pathophysiology of ischemia occurring with hypotension (low perfusion pressure) or mild increase in myocardial oxygen demand (low distal arteriolar resistance). The results also suggest that collaterals, by maintaining stenotic pressure, could decrease the constrictor sensitivity and prevent ischemia.

Animals

Effect of intravenous adenosine infusion on myocardial perfusion and function. Hemodynamic/angiographic and scintigraphic study.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial perfusion imaging during adenosine-induced hyperemia with dipyridamole or adenosine is an accepted method to diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD) and risk assessment. The mechanism of perfusion abnormality may be caused by disparate flow responses or coronary steal. This study examined the relation between 201Tl perfusion pattern and hemodynamic/angiographic changes during intravenous adenosine infusion. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with suspected CAD underwent sequential hemodynamic, coronary arteriographic, and left ventriculographic studies simultaneously with 201Tl imaging during adenosine infusion (140 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 for 6 minutes). There were 33 patients with CAD and 12 patients without CAD. The 201Tl images (using single-photon emission computed tomography) were abnormal in 31 patients with CAD (sensitivity, 94%) and normal in the patients without CAD (specificity, 100%). In patients with and without CAD, there were significant increases in heart rate and cardiac output (p less than 0.0001) and decreases in systemic vascular resistance and blood pressure (p less than 0.0001). There was a 77 +/- 38% increase in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure in normal subjects and a 125 +/- 83% increase in patients with CAD (p = 0.02). ST segment depression was observed in 11 patients with CAD (33%). In CAD patients, there was no change in percent diameter or area stenosis measured quantitatively during adenosine infusion. In 15 patients, contrast left ventriculography was repeated during adenosine infusion. In these patients, 201Tl perfusion defects were seen in 31 of 75 segments (41%) whereas only six of 75 segments (8%) developed regional wall motion abnormality (p less than 0.001); the remaining segments showed either no change or improved function. The left ventricular ejection fraction did not change significantly (73% versus 75%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a disparity between the effects of adenosine on left ventricular perfusion and function; most patients with CAD have perfusion defects whereas the global and regional systolic function remains unchanged or improves. Diastolic left ventricular dysfunction is a probable mechanism of the increase in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure.

Adenosine

Early thallium imaging after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: tomographic evaluation during adenosine-induced coronary hyperemia.

This study examined the immediate results of 201Tl imaging during adenosine-induced coronary hyperemia in 25 patients with one-vessel coronary artery disease, 4 +/- 3 days after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). There were special features in our study: use of quantitative angiography and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT); a homogeneous group of patients (one-vessel disease) and a uniform stress (adenosine infusion). As a group, quantitative coronary angiography showed a decrease in percent diameter stenosis from 72% +/- 12% to 23% +/- 14%, p < 0.001. The thallium images were normal in 17 patients and abnormal in eight patients. However, of the eight patients, four had residual stenosis either in a secondary branch or downstream; one patient had local dissection (the residual stenosis could not be assessed reliably), two patients had > 50% residual diameter stenosis, and one patient had previous Q-wave myocardial infarction with a corresponding fixed thallium defect. In each of the eight patients with an abnormal image, a logical explanation could be identified. Thus, our results suggest that maximum reactive coronary hyperemia returns to normal immediately after PTCA, and that abnormal thallium results are due to inadequate dilatation or associated lesions.

Adenosine

Comparison of same-day protocols using technetium-99m-sestamibi myocardial imaging.

Two same-day protocols (rest/exercise [Protocol 1] and exercise/rest [Protocol 2]) with sestamibi (hexakis 2-methoxy-2-isobutyl-isonitrile) were performed within 2 to 14 days of each other after randomization. The initial study in each protocol was done using a dose of 185-296 MBq of 99mTc-sestamibi. The second study in each protocol used a dose of 555-925 MBq. SPECT imaging was started 30 to 60 min after injection using a 180 degrees anterior arc. Segmental analysis was interpreted as normal, scar or ischemia (20 segments/patient). Among the protocols, there was concordance in 93% of the segments (593/640 segments). In the 11 patients with coronary artery disease and no prior myocardial infarction who had ischemic abnormality, count densities from abnormal and normal zones were compared between the two protocols. Protocol 1 showed greater count differences between abnormal and normal zones on exercise images with better normalization of abnormality on rest images than Protocol 2 (p less than 0.05). Technetium-99m-sestamibi provides high quality images using either of the two same-day protocols. However, the rest/exercise protocol provides better image contrast and ability to detect reversibility of perfusion defects, and is the preferred same-day protocol.

Ambulatory Care

Assessment of coronary artery disease using single-photon emission computed tomography with thallium-201 during adenosine-induced coronary hyperemia.

Thallium-201 myocardial imaging during dipyridamole-induced coronary hyperemia has been an accepted method for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) and risk stratification. Adenosine is a powerful short-acting coronary vasodilator. Initial results of thallium imaging during adenosine infusion have been encouraging. In 132 patients with CAD and in 16 patients with normal coronary angiograms, adenosine was given intravenously at a dose of 0.14 mg/kg/min for 6 minutes and thallium-201 was injected at 3 minutes. The thallium images using single-photon emission computed tomography were abnormal in 47 of the 54 patients (87%) with 1-vessel, in 34 of 37 patients (92%) with 2-vessel and in 40 of 41 patients (98%) with 3-vessel CAD. The sensitivity was 92% in the 132 patients with CAD (95% confidence intervals, 86 to 96%). In patients with normal coronary angiograms, 14 of 16 patients had normal thallium images (specificity, 88%; 95% confidence intervals, 59 to 100%). The results were very similar when subgroups of patients were analyzed: those without prior myocardial infarction, elderly patients and women. The nature of the perfusion defects (fixed or reversible) was assessed in relation to whether the 4-hour delayed images were obtained with or without the reinjection technique. In patients who underwent conventional delayed imaging, there were more fixed perfusion defects than in patients with reinjection delayed imaging (16 vs 0%, p less than 0.0001). The adverse effects were mild, transient and well tolerated. Thus, adenosine thallium tomographic imaging provides a high degree of accuracy in the diagnosis of CAD. The use of the reinjection technique enhances the ability to detect reversible defects.

Adenosine

Dipyridamole thallium imaging.

Dipyridamole cardiac imaging is a useful alternative to exercise stress testing in the evaluation of patients with ischemic heart disease. Intravenous dipyridamole has been approved recently for clinical use. Oral dipyridamole is widely available. The hemodynamic effects of dipyridamole include an increase in coronary blood flow in excess of the increase in myocardial oxygen consumption and cardiac output. The quality of the thallium images is better or similar to that of exercise thallium images. The optimal dose of intravenous dipyridamole is 0.56 mg/kg and the optimal oral dose is 300-375 mg, although higher doses may be necessary in some patients. The sensitivity and specificity of dipyridamole-thallium imaging, whether intravenous or oral, have been shown in a number of studies to be quite adequate and comparable to that achieved during exercise thallium imaging. Dipyridamole-thallium imaging has also been useful in identifying high-risk patients undergoing major elective vascular surgery. The relative merits of dipyridamole imaging versus exercise testing after acute myocardial infarction require further studies.

Coronary Vessels