Cardiac function assessed by attenuation-corrected radionuclide pressure-volume indices.

Using attenuation-corrected radionuclide volumes and arm-cuff peak systolic pressures, we established the mean value for the ratio of left ventricular (LV) peak systolic pressure/end systolic volume at rest for 15 healthy persons. In 43 patients with coronary disease, this ratio was more sensitive as an indicator of abnormal LV function and for predicting coronary artery disease than the resting ejection fraction. The slope of an end systolic pressure-volume line was also calculated from data obtained under three loading conditions: at rest, during isometric handgrip testing, and after the sublingual administration of nitroglycerin. The sensitivity of the slope for predicting the presence of coronary artery disease was not significantly different from the resting peak systolic pressure/end systolic volume ratio but was helpful in identifying patients with coronary artery disease. These results represent an improvement over previous radionuclide pressure-volume measurements that have not used attenuation correction and show the need for accurate, nongeometric measurements of the LV end systolic volume.