Radionuclide Angiocardiography in Post‐myocardial Infarction Patients

One hundred and one representative post‐myocardial infarction (MI) patients were investigated with radionuclide angiocardiography (RNA) and exercise test within 1 month of the MI and after 6 and 12 months. From the RNA were calculated the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and a quantified phase image, the phase standard deviation (phase‐SD), representing the timing of the left ventricular contraction. The mean phase‐SD was significantly higher among these patients (18°, 19° and 18°, respectively, at the three investigations) compared to phase‐SD in normals (6°), indicating an impaired timing of the left ventricular (LV) contraction. At all three investigations a significant correlation was found between the phase‐SD and the LVEF (r=0.58, r=‐0.74 and r=‐0.75, respectively) and the corrected QT interval (r=0.27, r=0.44 and r=0.39, respectively). Maximal serum ASAT in patients with their first MI correlated significantly to phase‐SD. Low exercise capacity or unfavourable NYHA classification was associated with high phase‐SD. Phase‐SD higher than mean was also associated with significantly increased mortality during the follow‐up year (P=0.0057). In conclusion, phase‐SD, reflecting the timing of the LV contraction wave, is easily accessible and clinically relevant. It merits further investigation as a prognostic factor after an MI.