[99m]Tc-MIBI washout rate to evaluate the effects of steroid therapy in cardiac sarcoidosis

We sought to determine the usefulness of the [99m]Tc-MIBI [MIBI] washout rate for the evaluation of steroid therapy in cardiac sarcoidosis [CS]. Eleven CS patients underwent MIBI myocardial SPECT both before and 6 months after initiating steroid therapy. The washout rate [WOR] of MIBI was calculated using early and delayed polar map images. The washout score [WOS] of MIBI was derived from the difference between the early and delayed total defect scores [TDS]. Serum ACE and BNP exhibited significant improvement after the therapy [p = 0.004, p = 0.045]. In the LV function, EDV and E/A ratio exhibited significant improvement after the therapy [p = 0.041, p = 0.007], while there were no significant differences between before and after therapy in EF or ESV. Early and delayed TDS showed no significant differences between before and after the therapy. In contrast, WOR differed significantly [p < .0001], while WOS did not differ significantly between before and after the therapy. The washout rate of MIBI is suitable for assessment of cardiac function in CS with steroid therapy, being especially better than the washout score of MIBI for assessment of disease activity of mild myocardial damage in CS with steroid therapy

Role of ¹²³I-BMIPP and serum B-type natriuretic peptide for the evaluation of patients with heart failure

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Myocardial scintigraphy with ¹²³I-15-(p-iodophenyl)-3-methyl pentadecanoic acid (¹²³I-BMIPP) is used to evaluate impaired fatty acid metabolism. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), which is secreted by the ventricular myocardium on stretching and/or pressure overload, is a useful cardiac biomarker. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of ¹²³I-BMIPP imaging and serum BNP levels in patients with heart failure (HF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>113 patients with HF were enrolled. There were 68 patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and 22 with overt HF. Cardiac scintigraphy was performed 7 ± 3 days after admission, and heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) count ratios on early and delayed images and washout rates (WR) of ¹²³I-BMIPP were recorded. Serum BNP levels were recorded on the day of ¹²³I-BMIPP imaging. The ejection fraction (EF) was calculated just before cardiac scintigraphy using conventional echocardiography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean BNP level and EF were 282 pg/mL and 47%, respectively, with significant correlation between them. The mean H/M count ratios on early and delayed images were 2.29 and 1.93, respectively, showing significant positive correlations with EF (r = 0.31, p = 0.0006). The WR was significantly correlated with EF (r = -0.36, p < 0.0001) and BNP levels (r = 0.33, p = 0.003), and mean WR was significantly higher in patients with overt HF compared to those without (p < 0.001). Patients with IHD had significantly higher EFs than those with non-IHD (p = 0.03).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The evaluation of impaired myocardial metabolism using ¹²³I-BMIPP scintigraphy and serum BNP levels appears to be useful for the evaluation of severity of HF.</p>