A patient with type I CD36 deficiency whose myocardium accumulated 123I-BMIPP after 4 years.

A 73-year-old man with aortic regurgitation was examined by 123I-alpha-methyl-p-iodophenylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) myocardial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in 1995. Myocardial accumulation was not evident on either the early or the delayed image obtained 15 minutes and 3 hours, respectively, after injecting 123I-BMIPP. Flow cytometric analysis of CD36 expression in monocytes and platelets identified a type I CD36 deficiency. The patient was hospitalized for severe heart failure in 1999. Upon admission, the cardiothoracic ratio on chest X-rays was 73%, and the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter on echocardiograms was enlarged to 77 mm. On the second day, we performed 123I-BMIPP myocardial SPECT. Myocardial accumulation was evident in the delayed, but not in the early image. We repeated 123I-BMIPP myocardial SPECT on the 10th day after admission. Myocardial accumulation was evident on both early and delayed images. 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial SPECT was immediately performed after 123I-BMIPP myocardial SPECT to distinguish myocardial from pooling images in the left ventricle, but, because the images from both 99Tc-tetrofosmin and 123I-BMIPP myocardial SPECT were idential, we considered that the 123I-BMIPP myocardial SPECT images reflected the actual myocardial condition. The CD36 molecule transports long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) on the myocardial membrane, but 123I-BMIPP scintigraphy does not show any myocardial accumulation in patients with type I CD36 deficiency, indicating that myocardial LCFA uptake occurs through CD36 on the human myocardial membrane. Even though our patient had type I CD36 deficiency, BMIPP was uptaken by the myocardium during heart failure, suggesting a variant pathway on the human myocardial membrane for LCFA uptake.

[Unusual changes detected by iodine-123 15-(p-iodophenyl)-3-R,S-methylpentadecanoic acid myocardial single photon emission computed tomography in the process of acute myocardial infarction: a case report].

Iodine-123 15-(p-iodophenyl)-3-R,S-methylpentadecanoic acid myocardial single photon emission computed tomography(iodine-123 BMIPP myocardial SPECT) is useful for the diagnosis and evaluation of ischemic myocardial disease or cardiomyopathy. Changes in fatty acid metabolism in the post-myocardial ischemic state were evaluated using iodine-123 BMIPP myocardial SPECT. A 77-year-old woman was hospitalized for treatment of acute myocardial infarction. Emergency coronary angiography showed severe stenosis with delayed filling of contrast medium in the middle portion of the left anterior descending artery, so primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was performed successfully. On the second day, iodine-123 BMIPP uptake was decreased slightly on the early imaging in the apico-anterior region, and increased slightly on the delayed imaging. On the seventh day, iodine-123 BMIPP uptake was decreased moderately or markedly in the apico-anterior region on the early imaging, and decreased markedly on the delayed imaging. Iodine-123 BMIPP myocardial SPECT subsequently became almost normalized. These unusual dynamic changes In iodine-123 BMIPP myocardial SPECT imaging may reflect metabolic changes of fatty acids in the ischemic state, the size of the triacylglycerol pool, and the degree of turnover in the triacylglycerol pool.

Uncommon and dynamic changes detected by 123I-15-(p-iodophenyl)-3-R,S-methylpentadecanoic acid myocardial single photon emission computed tomography in a stunned myocardium induced by coronary microvascular spasm.

A 55-yr-old man underwent surgery. Soon after the procedure was finished, the patient complained of chest pain, and the electrocardiogram showed increase in the ST-segment in some leads. Emergency angiography showed normal coronary arteries, but there was asynergy in the left ventricle, and delayed filling of contrast medium was observed in the LCA. An intracoronary infusion of isosorbide dinitrate did not improve the delayed filling of contrast medium or ST segment increase in the electrocardiogram. Soon after nicorandil was injected into the LCA, the patient's symptoms, electrocardiogram, and delayed filling of contrast medium dramatically improved. On the second day, initial imaging by 123I-BMIPP myocardial SPECT showed a moderate increase in tracer uptake in the apico-anteroseptal region and a moderate decrease in tracer uptake in the lateral region, in which the first left ventriculography showed akinesis, and delayed imaging revealed a moderate increase in tracer uptake in the apical region and a high washout of 123I-BMIPP in the anteroseptal and lateral regions. On the sixth day, initial imaging by 123I-BMIPP myocardial SPECT showed a moderate decrease in tracer uptake in the apical and lateral regions and a mild decrease in tracer uptake in the anteroseptal region, and delayed imaging revealed a moderate increase in tracer uptake in the apical region and a high washout of 123I-BMIPP in the anteroseptal and lateral regions. By the 30th day, 123I-BMIPP myocardial SPECT had normalized. We consider that these dynamic changes in 123I-BMIPP myocardial SPECT imaging may reflect metabolic changes in fatty acids in the ischemic state, the size of the triacylglycerol pool, and the degree of turnover in the triacylglycerol pool.

[Clinical usefulness of 123I-BMIPP myocardial SPECT in collagen disease].

This study was designed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of 123I-BMIPP myocardial SPECT for detecting cardiac involvement in patients with collagen disease. We studied 12 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 8 with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), 6 with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) and 3 with allergic granulomatosis and angiitis (AGA). A 111 MBq of 123I-BMIPP was intravenously injected at rest, and SPECT images were obtained at 15 min after the injection. Seven of 12 SLE, 6 of 8 PSS, 3 of 6 PM/DM and all 3 AGA patients showed an abnormal tracer uptake. The left ventricular ejection fraction was inversely correlated with a BMIPP abnormality. The regional wall motion abnormality was reduced in regions with reduced tracer uptake. These findings suggest that 123I-BMIPP imaging could be useful for assessment of cardiac involvement in patients with collagen disease.

[Clinical usefulness of delayed exercise images on 99mTc-Tetrofosmin myocardial SPECT in the diagnosis of vasospastic angina pectoris].

This study was designed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of delayed exercise images in 99mTc-tetrofosmin (TF) myocardial SPECT in the diagnosis of vasospastic angina pectoris. We studied 30 patients with vasospastic angina, 10 of 30 patients (group A) had both effort and rest angina, 20 of 30 patients (group B) had rest angina. A 370 MBq of TF was intravenously injected at peak exercise, and initial (EX-I) and delayed exercise (EX-D) images were obtained at 30 min and 180 min after the injection. An additional 740 MBq of TF was intravenously reinjected after EX-D image acquisition, and rest images were obtained 30 min after the reinjection. The left ventricular wall was divided into 9 segments. Regional myocardial uptakes of TF were scored by 4-point defect score (0 = normal, 1 = mildly reduced, 2 = moderately reduced, and 3 = severely reduced). Total defect score (TDS) was calculated from the sum of defect scores in 9 segments. Reverse redistribution (RR) was defined as increase of more than 2 in TDS on EX-D images. In group A, 4 of 10 cases (40%) showed decreased uptake on EX-I images, 6 of 10 cases (60%) revealed RR on EX-D images, and none of the patients showed decreased uptake on rest images. In group B, no one showed decreased uptake on EX-I and rest images, 11 of 20 cases (55%) revealed RR on EX-D images. The mean +/- SD of TDS were 2.9 +/- 3.4, 5.1 +/- 4.5, 0.5 +/- 0.5 on EX-I, EX-D, rest images in group A, and serially 0.4 +/- 0.5, 3.3 +/- 3.6, 0.4 +/- 0.5 in group B. Regional wall motion abnormality was reduced in regions with RR. RR on EX-D images may reflect ischemic damaged but viable myocardium in vasospastic angina. The clinical usefulness of exercise-rest TF imaging in detection of organic coronary artery disease has been well established. Therefore, exercise-rest TF imaging with additional delayed exercise image could evaluate not only organic coronary artery disease but also coronary artery vasospasm.

[Impairment of septal uptake and washout on 123I-BMIPP myocardial SPECT after pacemaker implantation: report of two cases].

Case 1 involved a 62-year-old woman with complete atrioventricular block and case 2 involved a 70-year-old woman with sick sinus syndrome. In both cases, echocardiography, 123I-15-(p-iodophenyl)-3-R,S-methyl pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) and 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial single photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) findings were normal. Coronary arteriography and left ventriculography also revealed normal in both cases. After pacemaker implantation (DDD-type in case 1 and VVI-type in case 2), both patient's electrocardiograms revealed left bundle branch block-type conduction disturbance, and echocardiography showed asynchronous hypokinesia in the septal region. One year later, although both patient's ATP loading tetrofosmin SPECT were normal, BMIPP SPECT showed reduced uptake and increased washout in the septal region. These findings suggest that these changes of BMIPP SPECT might be caused by left bundle branch block-type conduction disturbance after pacemaker implantation.

[Two cases of microvascular vasospastic angina usefulness of 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial SPECT in clinical diagnosis].

Case 1 involved a 52-year-old man with angina chest pain at rest and case 2 involved a 63-year-old woman with chest oppression at rest. An electrocardiogram (ECG) showed negative T wave in III and aVF leads in case 1, and complete atrioventricular block and ST segment depression in II, III, aVF, and V5-6 leads in case 2. In both cases, 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial SPECT showed reduced uptake in the inferior and posterior wall. Although bath patients' left coronary arteriographies were normal, right coronary arteriographies revealed severely delayed filling of contrast medium without significant narrowing of epicardial coronary arteries, suggesting microembolism or microvascular vasospasm. An intracoronary infusion of isosorbide dinitrate did not improve the delayed filling of contrast medium or ST segment depression on ECG. Soon after intracoronary infusion of diltiazem in case 1 and nicorandil in case 2, coronary arterial flows were normalized, chest symptoms disappeared, and ECG findings were normalized. The next day, both patients' 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial SPECT showed normal uptake. These findings suggest that myocardial ischemia in these cases might be explained as having been caused by microvascular spasm.

Intensified cancer themotherapy by induction of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes as a trial for the treatment for stomach cancer.

Studies of an intensified chemotherapy of FT-207, combined with MMC, have been under way since April 1977 in the First Department of Surgery of Chiba University Hospital and five closely related hospitals. These studies were performed on 114 patients with curative stomach cancer. The 114 patients received intravenously 0.4 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg of MMC on the operation day and the next day, respectively, and then intravenously 800 mg of FT-207 daily from the 10th postoperative day until discharge, followed by oral administration of FT-207, 600 mg, for more than 1 year after discharge. The 114 patients were divided into two groups. Half of the patients received 100 mg of phenobarbital and 30 mg/kg of glutathione for the purpose of induction of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes (induction group). Significantly higher levels of serum 5-FU released from FT-207 were observed in the patients of the induction group when compared to those of the control group. However, there was no statistically significant difference in survivals at both 12 and 24 months after operation between both groups.