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P Fazzini

Publications and source records attributed to P Fazzini.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Evaluation of coronary artery disease using technetium-99m-sestamibi first-pass and perfusion imaging with dipyridamole infusion.

UNLABELLED: The aims of this study were: (1) to test whether first-pass radionuclide angiocardiography (FPRNA) adds useful information to perfusion scintigraphy; and (2) to assess the relative accuracy of perfusion and functional imaging in combination with dipyridamole for the evaluation of CAD. METHODS: Thirty patients with angiographically proven CAD (17 with prior infarction) were studied on separate days at rest and with dipyridamole infusion (0.7 mg/kg over 4 min). Tomographic images were evaluated using an uptake score. Dipyridamole FPRNA was considered positive in case of stress-induced wall motion abnormality or ejection fraction decrease. RESULTS: The CAD detection rate of perfusion imaging was 100%, while that of FPRNA was 70% using wall motion criteria, 63% using ejection fraction response and 77% considering any abnormality. For CAD localization, perfusion imaging showed 76% sensitivity, 96% specificity and 82% accuracy. FPRNA results were 50%, 100% and 60%, respectively. Perfusion imaging was significantly superior to FPRNA also excluding from the analysis the infarct-related vessels. FPRNA did not identify multivessel CAD, which was correctly detected by perfusion imaging in most cases. Both techniques were more sensitive in case of > or = 90% stenosis, but the difference was more remarkable for FPRNA (sensitivity 65% versus 14%, p < 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Dipyridamole FPRNA did not add noteworthy clinical information to perfusion imaging regarding CAD detection and evaluation of disease extent. The main contribution of a positive FPRNA was its relation with coronary obstruction severity. These results confirm the superiority of perfusion over functional imaging in combination with coronary vasodilators.

Coronary Angiography

Acute effects on exercise tolerance of felodipine and diltiazem, alone and in combination, in stable effort angina.

The acute effects on exercise tolerance and electrocardiographic ischaemia of felodipine and diltiazem, alone or in combination, were investigated in 12 patients with documented stable effort-induced angina pectoris. After being withdrawn from their previous antianginal treatments, patients received a single oral dose of felodipine 10 mg, diltiazem 60 mg, their combination or placebo on four different days, according to a double-blind, 4 x 4 latin-square design. Exercise time to ischaemic threshold (ST-segment depression = 1 mm) and to peak exercise was significantly prolonged by the felodipine-diltiazem combination (492 and 504 s, respectively) against placebo (301 and 370 s, both P less than 0.01), felodipine alone (381 and 428 s, both P less than 0.01) and diltiazem alone (367 and 422 s, both P less than 0.01). The effects on total work followed a similar pattern. In comparison with placebo, the administration of felodipine and diltiazem alone significantly increased exercise duration as well as total work to ischaemic threshold and to peak exercise, with no differences between the two drugs. Systolic blood pressure during exercise was not affected by any of the treatments. However, in comparison with both placebo and diltiazem, the combination induced an increase (P less than 0.01) in heart rate during exercise. One patient suffered from symptomatic hypotension with the combination, and another had sinus tachycardia after felodipine. In conclusion, the acute concomitant administration of felodipine and diltiazem in patients with stable effort angina induces a marked improvement in exercise tolerance in comparison with placebo, felodipine alone and diltiazem alone. However, the benefit/risk profile of such a combination requires further, long-term investigation.

Angina Pectoris