[Prognosis for patients with angina pectoris accompanied by chronic renal failure].

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is one of the risk factors of a worse outcome for patients with coronary artery disease. However, few studies have assessed the outcome in such patients. This study investigated the clinical characteristics, treatment modalities, and prognosis for patients with angina pectoris accompanied by CRF and evaluated the validity of current treatment strategy for these patients. A total of 593 patients (248 with stable angina and 345 with unstable angina) admitted to our institution were studied. Renal failure was defined as serum creatinine of > or = 2.0 mg/dl. Patients were divided into 2 groups, with renal failure (46 patients) and without renal failure (547 patients), and the former group was further divided into 2 groups with hemodialysis (26 patients) and without hemodialysis (20 patients). The mean follow-up period was 2.5 +/- 1.2 years and the follow-up rate was 99%. The prevalences of congestive heart failure (26% vs 3%, p < 0.001), hypertension (72% vs 45%, p < 0.005), and multivessel coronary artery disease (65% vs 33%, p < 0.001) were higher in patients with CRF. The left ventricular end-diastolic volume was greater in patients with CRF than in patients without CRF (114 +/- 36 vs 85 +/- 24 ml/m2, p < 0.001). The calcification score of both coronary arteries and abdominal aorta evaluated by electron-beam computed tomography was higher in patients with CRF (2,187 +/- 2,727 vs 631 +/- 841, p = 0.03; 4,091 +/- 3,068 vs 2,191 +/- 2,249, p = 0.02, respectively). In-hospital cardiac mortality was higher in patients with CRF than in patients without CRF (8.7% vs 0.7%, p < 0.001). The cumulative survival was 88% at 1 year and 65% at 3 years in patients with CRF and 99% and 97% in patients without CRF, respectively (p < 0.001). The incidence of re-hospitalization due to congestive heart failure was higher in patients with CRF (19% vs 1.3%, p < 0.0001). The cumulative survival in CRF was 93% at 1 year, 57% at 3 years in the medical treatment group and 87% and 75% in the invasive therapy group, respectively (p = 0.1). Patients with angina pectoris and CRF had a poor prognosis under the current treatment strategy. Newly developed therapeutic strategies, such as rotational atherectomy, minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery and combinations, will be necessary to improve the long-term prognosis for these patients.

[Estimation of myocardial viability and clinical significance of reverse redistribution in resting technetium-99m sestamibi myocardial single photon emission computed tomography in patients with acute myocardial infarction].

The clinical significance of reverse redistribution of technetium-99m sestamibi (MIBI) was investigated in 36 patients with acute myocardial infarction and angiographically confirmed single-vessel disease, but without previous infarction using resting MIBI myocardial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and exercise-reinjection thallium-201 (Tl) myocardial SPECT. MIBI myocardial SPECT was performed 90 min and 300 min after injection of MIBI 370 MBq at rest. Four hours after exercise Tl imaging was completed, reinjection imaging was obtained. Wall motion abnormalities on left ventriculograms were analyzed at the onset of infarction and 1 month later. The severity scores on the MIBI early image, MIBI delayed image and Tl reinjection image were 98 +/- 18, 170 +/- 22 and 90 +/- 18, respectively. The reverse redistribution of MIBI was marked in acute infarction. A significant correlation of severity score was found between the MIBI early image and Tl reinjection image (r = 0.89). In 18 patients with significant stenosis of an infarct-related artery, there was a significant correlation between the degree of reverse redistribution and that of Tl redistribution (r = 0.826). A good correlation was found between the severity score on the MIBI early image and wall motion abnormality at 1 month after infarction (r = 0.816). There was a significant correlation between the degree of reverse redistribution and wall motion improvement (r = 0.782). Despite stenosis of the infarct-related artery, the wall motion abnormality was less in 22 patients with marked reverse redistribution (defect score on the MIBI delayed image was double that on the early image) than the other 14 patients. In conclusion, the MIBI early image may reflect myocardial viability and the reverse redistribution of MIBI was observed frequently in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Marked reverse redistribution was observed in patients with preserved left ventricular function. Because of the close correlation of reverse redistribution with Tl redistribution and wall motion improvement, reverse redistribution of MIBI is considered to occur in areas at risk for acute myocardial infarction.

Acute myocardial infarction caused by thrombotic occlusion of a coronary aneurysm.

We encountered an unusual case of acute myocardial infarction due to obstruction of a coronary aneurysm in a 38-year-old Japanese man. Although thrombolysis and rescue percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, performed in the acute phase, did not result in recanalization, serial angiography and intravascular ultrasonography showed spontaneous recanalization and partial thrombosis within the aneurysmal segment during 3 months.

A case of rest angina due to microvascular spasm.

A 66-year-old woman underwent elective cardiac catheterization for investigation of periodic attacks of chest pain at rest. During the examination, a chest pain attack occurred unexpectedly, resulting in ST elevation in the precordial leads on electrocardiography. Immediate coronary arteriography demonstrated no organic stenosis but markedly delayed contrast medium perfusion in the mild to distal portion of the left anterior descending artery. These phenomena spontaneously disappeared about 3 min later, and the patient was diagnosed as having angina pectoris due to microvascular spasm. The demonstration of angina pectoris due to microvascular spasm by coronary arteriography during a spontaneous attack is very rare.

[Clinical value of rapid clearance in resting sestamibi cardiac SPECT in patients with acute myocardial infarction].

Resting 99mTc sestamibi (MIBI) SPECT and exercise-reinjection thallium-201 (T1) SPECT were performed in fourteen patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). MIBI SPECT were obtained 90 min (MIBI-90) and 300 min (MIBI-300) after injection of 370 MBq of MIBI at rest. MIBI-90 and MIBI-300 were compared with exercise T1 imaging (T1-EX) and T1 reinjection imaging (REINJ). Each SPECT image was divided into 22 segments and myocardial uptake was scored visually. Abnormal perfusion defects were observed in 94 myocardial regions. Worsening of the score was observed in 79 segments (84%) on MIBI-300 compared with MIBI-90. Total MIBI-300 uptake score per person was significantly greater than that at MIBI-90 (14.8 +/- 8.6 vs. 7.7 +/- 7.9, p = 0.001). The concordance rate of defect score between MIBI-90 and REINJ was significantly higher than that between MIBI-300 and REINJ (55% vs. 17%, p = 0.001). In nine patients without recanalization of an infarct-related artery, perfusion defects were seen in 74 segments. The concordance rate of defect scores between MIBI-300 and T1-EX was significantly higher than that between MIBI-90 and T1-EX (45% vs. 16%, p = 0.001). In conclusion, rapid clearance of MIBI was observed frequently in patients with AMI. MIBI-90 and MIBI-300 may reflect myocardial viability and areas at risk for AMI, respectively.

Angiographic-pathologic correlations after elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

BACKGROUND: The local effect of coronary angioplasty is evaluated on the basis of postangioplasty angiograms. Smooth-walled dilation is considered to represent minimal or no injury, whereas intraluminal haziness corresponds with wall laceration. This study correlates the preangioplasty and postangioplasty angiograms with the histopathology of the target sites. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study includes 12 patients, each undergoing an elective procedure, and covers 19 angioplasty sites. Smooth-walled dilation and intraluminal haziness were not mutually exclusive. The angiograms were interpreted as smooth-walled dilation (n = 3), smooth-walled dilation with intraluminal haziness (n = 4), intraluminal and extraluminal haziness (n = 5), extraluminal dissection (n = 5), spiraltype dissection (n = 1), and aneurysm (n = 1). The histology of the arterial segments revealed wall laceration in all. Smooth-walled dilation without intraluminal haziness correlated with laceration limited to the intima in two, but with medial injury in one. Smooth-walled dilation with intraluminal haziness correlated with laceration limited to the intima in two and with medial injury in two. Intraluminal and extraluminal haziness corresponded with extensive laceration with deep involvement of the media in each. Extraluminal dissection correlated with a dissection along the shoulder area of the plaque, creating a broad-based flap. The spiral-type dissection corresponded with a true dissection into the plaque-free media. The aneurysm correlated with partial washout of an atherosclerotic plaque. CONCLUSIONS: The angiographic image of intraluminal and extraluminal haziness indicates extensive medial laceration. Smooth-walled dilation, with or without intraluminal haziness, is not a reliable indicator. The study emphasizes the need to reconsider the interpretations of postangioplasty coronary angiograms.