Les études de perfusion du myocarde en tomographie par émission de positons (TEP) sont utilisées pour diagnostiquer l’étendue de maladies coronariennes. La TEP peut aussi mesurer le débit sanguin myocardique en valeur absolue, au repos et en période d’effort. Une des limitations réside dans le fait que l’activité résiduelle de l’examen de repos ne doit pas contaminer l’examen réalisé en phase d’effort. Il est donc nécessaire de séparer les deux acquisitions de 3 à 5 périodes radioactives. Il est maintenant possible d’utiliser de nouveaux traceurs marqués au fluor 18 pour quantifier le débit sanguin myocardique avec précision. Leur période offre la possibilité d’une distribution régionale mais complique la logistique des examens, en rallongeant la durée d’attente entre les deux acquisitions. Pour s’affranchir de cette contrainte, une nouvelle méthode a récemment été proposée (Alpert et al. 2012). Cette méthode permet de mesurer le débit sanguin myocardique au repos et en phase d’effort lors d’une seule session d’imagerie. Le but de cette thèse était de démontrer la faisabilité expérimentale de cette technique et de l’améliorer pour une éventuelle application clinique. Nous avons validé la méthode dans un modèle animal (cochon) pour le traceur 18F-Flurpiridaz puis, nous avons développé un algorithme pour générer rapidement des images paramétriques et des images standard de perfusion au repos et pendant effort. Nous avons ensuite validé nos méthodes pour le traceur 13NH3 qui est utilisé en clinique dans certains pays. Enfin, nous avons proposé une méthode pour la création d’un atlas multimodal 4D dans le but de faciliter les comparaisons entre acquisitions et sujets. / Positron emission tomography (PET) cardiac perfusion studies are used in the clinic to diagnose the extent of coronary artery disease. PET can also measure absolute myocardial blood flow (MBF) at rest and during stress. One limitation is that radioactivity from the rest scan must not affect the stress scan, making it necessary to wait 3 to 5 half-lives between studies for sufficient radioactive decay to occur. With the advent of new myocardial flow tracers, it is now possible to use 18F- tracers for myocardial perfusion imaging and accurate MBF quantification. Their physical half-life does not require the need of on-site cyclotron but constitutes a logistical complication for rest/stress measurements because of the between scan waiting period needed. To address this issue an alternative protocol was previously proposed (Alpert et al. 2012). In the new method rest and stress MBF is measured during a single-scan session. The goal of this thesis was to demonstrate the feasibility of this technique in experimental measurements and to improve its practicality for future clinical application. First, we demonstrated the use of the method in a porcine model for standard bull’s eye, segmental analysis using the novel flow tracer 18F-Flurpiridaz. We then extended the method and developed a computationally efficient algorithm to provide rest/stress MBF parametric maps and to generate rest/stress standard perfusion images in a timely manner. Third, we demonstrated the applicability of our methods to the clinically used radiotracer 13NH3. Lastly, we developed a framework for the construction of a 4D multimodal probabilistic atlas to facilitate inter- and intra-subjects comparisons.

Mirbazel SH. Jämförelse mellan kvinnor och mäns överlevnad baserad på resultat från arbetsprov och myokardscintigrafi. Examensarbete i Biomedicinsk Laboratorievetenskap, 15 högskolepoäng. Malmö högskola: Hälsa och Samhälle, utbildningsområde för Biomedicinsk Laboratorievetenskap, 2011.En av de vanligaste orsakerna till död både i utvecklingsländerna och i västvärlden är hjärtinfarkt som drabbar vanligtvis individer över 65 år. Hjärtischemi är den vanligaste orsaken till hjärtinfarkt/ plötsligt hjärtstopp. För diagnostik av hjärtischemi används oftast arbetsprov som förstahandsval, eftersom metoden är billig, icke-invasiv och relativt ofarlig. Myokardscintigrafi utförs ofta efter arbetsprovet, om detta varit inkonklusivt. Syftet i denna retrospektiva studie var att ta reda på om prognosen och överlevnaden skiljer sig åt mellan kvinnor och män beroende på undersökningsresultat från arbetsprov och myokardscintigrafi. I denna studie analyserades 2045 patienter som var registrerade att utföra arbetsprov för misstänkt eller tidigare känd koronarkärlssjukdom under 2006 & 2007. Patienternas resultat delades i tre grupper: normalt, patologiskt och intermediärt enligt bestämda kriterier. Intermediärgruppen analyserades också om de hade utfört ett myokardscintigrafi inom 6 månader. Intermediärgruppen delades därefter in i tre grupper: de med normal myokardscintigrafi, de med patologisk och de som inte hade utfört någon. Patienter med normalt arbetsprov var 1110, med intermediärt arbetsprov 540 och med patologiskt arbetsprov 254 personer. Det finns statistiskt signifikanta skillnader av antal levande och avlidna mellan män och kvinnor i intermediärt arbetsprov (p < 0,001) och i undergruppen, intermediär utan utförd myokardscintigrafi (p < 0,001). Det finns också en statistiskt signifikant skillnad i överlevnad i huvudgruppen med intermediärt arbetsprov(p < 0,01). Inga analyser av överlevad utfördes för undergrupperna. Sammanfattningsvis har denna studie visat att det inte finns några statistiskt säkerställda skillnader i överlevnad mellan män och kvinnor med normalt och patologiskt arbetsprov däremot finns det en signifikant skillnad i intermediärgruppen. / Mirbazel SH. Comparison between men and women’s survival based on the results from the exercise tests and myocardial perfusion imaging. Degree Project in Biomedical Laboratory Science, 15 points. Malmö University: Health and Society, Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, 2011.One of the most common causes of death in both developing countries and in the Western world is heart attack that hits usually individuals over 65 years. Cardiac ischemia is the most common cause of myocardial infarction/sudden cardiac arrest. For the diagnosis of cardiac ischemia, exercise test is the first choice, because the method is inexpensive, non-invasive and relatively harmless. Myocardial perfusion imaging is often performed after an inconclusive exercise test. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine if the prognosis and survival differ between women and men depending on the outcome of the investigation from the exercise test, and the myocardial perfusion imaging. In this study 2045 patients were analyzed who were registered to perform the exercise tests for a suspected or previously known coronary artery disease in 2006/2007. Patient’s results were divided into three groups: normal, pathological and intermediate findings. The intermediary group was further divided according to results of myocardial perfusion imaging within 6 months of the exercise test: those with normal, those with pathologic and those who had not carried out any myocardial perfusion imaging. Patients with normal exercise test were 1110, with intermediate exercise test 540 and with pathologic exercise test were 254 people. There are statistically significant differences in the number of living and deceased between men and women in intermediate exercise tests (p < 0, 001) and in the subgroup, intermediary without myocardial perfusion imaging (p < 0,001). There is also a statistically significant difference in survival in the main group with the intermediate exercise tests (p < 0.01). No analysis was performed for sub-groups. In conclusion, this study has shown that there are no statistically significant differences in survival between men and women with normal and pathological exercise test. However there is a significant difference in intermediary group.

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No description available.

Myokardscintigrafi är en nuklearmedicinsk metod som används för att kartlägga och visuellt bedöma blodflödet till hjärtat. Vid undersökningen används radiofarmakan Myoview, som består av radionukliden 99mTechnetium som vid sönderfall avger gammastrålning som kan registreras med en gammakamera. StarGuide är en modern gammakamera som implenterades i verksamheten på Skånes universitetssjukhus år 2022. Skillnaden mellan konventionella kamerasystem och StarGuide är främst utformningen och uppbyggnaden av detektorerna, vilket även påverkar hur bilderna framställs. Det här gör att det inte finns några riktlinjer på kliniken gällande kvalitetssäkring i myokardscintigrafi-bilder tagna med StarGuide. Syftet med studien var att undersöka om det finns korrelation mellan counts och kroppsvikt i myokardscintigrafibilder tagna med StarGuide. Retrospektiva data från totalt 60 patienter användes till studien. Medelcounts/s/MBq sattes mot vikt i en scatterplot samt utfördes även en korrelationsanalys. Korrelationsanalysen för hela populationen gav ett värde på -0,790. Könsfördelade korrelationsanalyser utfördes även och gav värdena -0,784 för kvinnor och -0,706 för män. Slutsatsen är att det finns en märkbar korrelation mellan counts och vikt tagna på StarGuide men att det behövs vidare arbete för att stärka studiens fynd. Framför allt behövs insamling av mer data från patienter med en lägre vikt då de var underrepresenterade i studien. / Myocardial perfusion SPECT is a nuclear test used to map and visually assess blood flow to the heart. In the test, the radiopharmaceutical Myoview is used, which consists of the radionuclide 99mTechnetium, which when decaying emits gamma radiation that can be registered with a gamma camera. StarGuide is a modern gamma camera that was implemented in the clinics at Skåne University Hospital in 2022. The difference between conventional camera systems and StarGuide is primarily the design and construction of the detectors, which also affects how the images are produced. This means that there are no guidelines in the clinic regarding quality assurance in myocardial scintigraphy images taken with StarGuide. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether there is a correlation between counts and body weight in myocardial scintigraphy images taken with StarGuide. Retrospective data from a total of 60 patients were used for the study. Mean counts/s/MBq were plotted against weight in a scatter plot and a correlation analysis was also performed. The correlation analysis for the whole population gave a rsvalue of -0.790. Gender-distributed correlation analyzes were also performed and yielded rsvalues ​​of -0.784 for women and -0.706 for men. The conclusion is that there is a noticeable correlation between counts and weight taken on the StarGuide, but that further work is needed to strengthen the study's findings. Above all, the collection of more data is needed from patients with a lower weight as they were underrepresented in the study.

Introdução: Pacientes com doença renal crônica terminal (DRCT) apresentam elevada prevalência de doença cardiovascular, sendo esta a principal causa de óbitos na população em diálise e após o transplante renal. Entretanto, a doença arterial coronária (DAC) é frequentemente assintomática em pacientes com DRCT e os exames não invasivos apresentam baixa acurácia diagnóstica nesses pacientes em relação à população geral. Objetivos: Determinar a performance diagnóstica da angiotomografia de artérias coronárias combinada à perfusão miocárdica pela tomografia (TC-AP) em pacientes com DRCT. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo, aberto, unicêntrico. Foram incluídos pacientes com DRCT em terapia de substituição renal, candidatos ao transplante renal com mais um fator de risco cardiovascular: idade >= 50 anos, diabetes ou história de doença cardiovascular. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos à coronariografia invasiva (CI) e à TC-AP. A aquisição das imagens tomográficas foi realizada durante estresse com dipiridamol e em repouso. Os resultados obtidos na TC-AP foram comparados aos da CI, considerada o padrão-ouro para diagnóstico de DAC. Foi realizada medida da reserva de fluxo fracionada (FFR) durante a CI em lesões obstrutivas classificadas visualmente como intermediárias. Baseado nos resultados da TC-AP e da CI (±FFR), os pacientes foram classificados como portadores ou não de DAC significativa e a análise foi feita por paciente. Os investigadores responsáveis pela análise da TC-AP não tiveram acesso aos resultados da CI (±FFR). Resultados: Entre julho de 2015 e janeiro de 2018, 64 pacientes (idade média 56,9 ± 9,2 anos; 67,2% do sexo masculino; 85,9% diabéticos) realizaram CI e TC-AP. A prevalência de DAC significativa na CI foi de 34,4%. Na comparação com a CI, os valores de sensibilidade e especificidade, valor preditivo positivo, valor preditivo negativo e a acurácia da TC-AP foram, respectivamente, 95,5%, 88,1%, 80,8%, 97,4% e 90,6%. As razões de verossimilhança positiva e negativa foram de 8,02 e 0,05, respectivamente. Conclusão: Um único exame baseado na tomografia computadorizada, associando angiografia coronária e perfusão miocárdica, apresentou elevada acurácia no diagnóstico de DAC obstrutiva significativa na população com DRCT candidata ao transplante renal. Essa estratégia poderá ser considerada na avaliação de DAC em pacientes com DRCT / Introduction: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease, which is the main cause of death in patients on dialysis or after kidney transplantation. However, coronary artery disease (CAD) is often asymptomatic in patients with ESRD, and noninvasive tests have a lower diagnostic accuracy in this scenario when compared to that in the general population. Objective: To determine the diagnostic performance of computed tomography (CT) angiography combined with myocardial perfusion (CT-AP) in the diagnosis of CAD in patients with ESRD. Methods: This was a prospective, single-center study. Patients with ESRD on renal replacement therapy, candidates for kidney transplantation, with at least one additional risk factor for cardiovascular disease (age >= 50 years, diabetes or previous cardiovascular disease) were included. All patients underwent invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and CT-AP. CT image acquisition was performed during dipyridamole-induced stress and at rest. Results of CT-AP were compared to those obtained on ICA, considered the gold standard for diagnosis of CAD. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) was measured during ICA for obstructive lesions visually graded as intermediate. Based on the results of CT-AP and ICA (±FFR), patients were classified as having significant or nonsignificant obstructive CAD, and analyses were performed at the patient level. Investigators responsible for the analysis of CT-AP were blinded to the findings of ICA (±FFR). Results: Between July 2015 and January 2018, 64 patients (mean age 56.9 ± 9.2 years; 67.2% male; 85.9% with diabetes) underwent ICA and CT-AP. Significant CAD was observed in 34.4% of patients on ICA. Compared to ICA, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy of CT-AP were 95.5%, 88.1%, 80.8%, 97.4%, and 90.6%, respectively. Positive and negative likelihood ratios were 8.02 and 0.05, respectively. Conclusion: A single test based on CT angiography and myocardial perfusion had a high accuracy for the diagnosis of significant obstructive CAD in patients with ESRD being evaluated for kidney transplantation. This strategy may be considered in the assessment of CAD in patients with ESRD

Introdução: A perfusão miocárdica de estresse pela tomografia (PMT) é um método emergente e não-invasivo para detecção de isquemia miocárdica. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a acurácia diagnóstica da PMT em pacientes com bloqueio de ramo esquerdo (BRE) que estavam em pesquisa diagnóstica de doença arterial coronariana (DAC) e o valor adicional da PMT sobre a tomografia computadorizada com múltiplos detectores (ATC) usando tomógrafo com 320 detectores, e compará-los com a cintilografia de perfusão miocárdica (SPECT) para detecção de isquemia miocárdica com estenose coronariana significativa (estenose >- 70%), utilizando a angiografia coronariana quantitativa (QCA) e a angiografia coronariana pela tomografia computadorizada com múltiplos detectores como referências. Material e Métodos: Quarenta e dois pacientes com BRE e SPECT ( < 2 meses) em avaliação diagnóstica de DAC foram encaminhados para realizar o protocolo de tomografia que incluiu o escore de cálcio, PMT, ATC e realce tardio do miocárdio. Trinta pacientes foram encaminhados para angiografia coronária invasiva. As imagens foram interpretadas por observadores independentes e alheios aos resultados dos exames e aos dados clínicos. Foram realizadas análises por paciente e por território. O estudo obteve a aprovação da comissão de ética e todos os pacientes assinaram consentimento informado. Resultados: A idade média dos pacientes foi 63 +- 10 anos e, destes, 67% mulheres (28 pacientes). A dose média de radiação total foi de 9,3 +- 4,6 mSv. Na análise por paciente, sensibilidade, especificidade, valores preditivos positivo e negativo foram de 86%, 89%, 80 e 93% para a PMT (p=0,001) (kappa 0,74) e 63%, 91%, 65% e 90% (p < 0,001) na análise por território (kappa 0,55), respectivamente. Em ambas as análises, o ATC mostrou excelente precisão, com área sob a curva ROC=0,9. Considerável concordância foi demonstrada entre SPECT e o QCA (kappa 0,32 e 0,26) nas análises por paciente e por território, respectivamente. A avaliação combinada da ATC com a PMT permitiu melhorar a acurácia diagnóstica para detecção de estenose coronariana com redução luminal hemodinamicamente significativa ( >= 70%) comparando-se com a ATC, PMT ou SPECT isolados, demonstrado por valores de sensibilidade, especificidade, e valores preditivos positivos e negativos de 93%, 87%, 87%, 93% (p < 0,0001) na avaliação combinada por paciente, e 85%, 90%, 79%, 93% (p < 0,0001) na avaliação combinada por território. Conclusão: O uso do protocolo tomográfico de estresse é viável e possui boa acurácia para diagnóstico de DAC em pacientes com BRE com resultados superiores ao SPECT. A combinação da PMT e ATC permitiu melhorar a acurácia diagnóstica da avaliação de obstrução coronariana significativa em pacientes com BRE / Introduction: Stress computed tomography myocardial perfusion (CTP) is an emerging and non-invasive method to detect myocardial ischemia. The objective of this study was to evaluate diagnostic accuracy of CTP in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) who were being evaluated for coronary artery disease (CAD) and the additional value of CTP on computed tomography angiography (CTA) using 320-row detector CT scanner and compare them with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for detection of myocardial ischemia with significant coronary stenosis >= 70% using quantitative invasive coronary angiography (QCA) and coronary CT angiography as references. Material and Methods: Forty two LBBB patients with SPECT ( < 2 months) in diagnostic evaluation for CAD were referred to stress CT protocol which included calcium score, CTP, CTA and myocardial delayed enhancement. Thirty patients were referred to invasive coronary angiography. Independent blinded observers performed analyses of the images. Per-patient and perterritory analyses were conducted. Ethical committee aproval was obtained and all patients gave informed consent. Results: The mean age was 63 +- 10 years. 67% were women (28 patients). The total mean radiation dose was 9,3 +- 4,6 mSv. In per-patient sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative values were 86%, 89%, 80 and 93%, for CTP (p=0,001) (kappa 0.74) and 63%, 91% 65% and 90% (p < 0,001) in per-territory analysis (kappa 0.55), respectively. In both analyses, CTA showed excellent accuracy with area under receiver operating curve (AUC) = 0.9. Fair agreement was demonstrated between SPECT and QCA (kappa 0,32 e 0,26) in per-patient and per-territory analyses, respectively. The combined analysis of CTA with CTP, improved diagnostic accuracy for detection of coronary stenosis with hemodynamically significant luminal reduction ( >= 70%) compared with CTA, CTP or SPECT alone, demonstrated by sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 93%, 87%, 87%, 93% (p < 0,0001) in the combined evaluation by patient and 85%, 90%, 79%, 93% (p < 0,0001) in the combined evaluation by territory. Conclusion: The use of customized stress CT protocol is feasible and has good accuracy for the diagnosis of CAD in patients with LBBB with results better than SPECT. The combination of PMT and ATC has improved the diagnostic accuracy of the assessment of significant coronary obstruction in patients with LBBB

Tomografia computadorizada por emissão de fóton único (SPECT) é uma modalidade da medicina nuclear baseada na medida da distribuição espacial de um radionuclídeo. Esta técnica é amplamente utilizada em cardiologia para avaliar problemas de perfusão miocárdica, relacionados ao fluxo sanguíneo nas artérias coronárias. As imagens SPECT proporcionam melhor separação das regiões do miocárdio e facilitam a localização e a definição dos defeitos de perfusão. Um dos grandes desafios em estudos SPECT é a eficiente apresentação da informação, uma vez que um único estudo pode gerar imagens de centenas de cortes a serem analisados. Para resolver este problema, são utilizados mapas polares (também conhecidos como gráficos Bulls Eye). Mapas polares são construídos a partir de cortes tomográficos do ventrículo esquerdo e apresentam as informações dos exames de forma sumarizada, em uma imagem bidimensional. Essa dissertação apresenta um método para segmentação do ventrículo esquerdo em estudos SPECT do miocárdio e a construção de mapas polares. A segmentação do ventrículo esquerdo é realizada para facilitar o processo de geração automática de mapas polares. O método desenvolvido utiliza a transformada watershed, no contexto do paradigma de Beucher-Meyer. Para visualização dos resultados, foi desenvolvida uma aplicação, chamada Medical Image Visualizer (MIV). O MIV será disponibilizado como projeto Open Source, podendo ser livremente utilizado e/ou modificado pela comunidade de usuários, desenvolvedores e pesquisadores. / Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a nuclear medicine tomographic imaging technique based on the measurement of spatial distribution of a radionuclide. This technique is widely used in cardiology to assess myocardial perfusion problems related to blood flow in coronary arteries. SPECT images provide better separation of regions of the myocardium and facilitate the location and definition of perfusion defects. One of the major challenges in SPECT studies is the efficient presentation of information, since a single study can generate hundreds of images of slices to be analyzed. To address this issue, polar maps (also known as Bulls Eye display) are used. Polar maps are built from slices of the left ventricle and provide summarized information of exams in a two dimensional image. This dissertation presents a method for the segmentation of the left ventricle in myocardial SPECT studies and the construction of polar maps. The segmentation of the left ventricle is performed to facilitate the process of automatic generation of polar maps. The method uses the watershed transform, in the context of the Beucher-Meyer paradigm. To display the results, it was developed an application called Medical Image Visualizer (MIV). MIV will be available as an Open Source project and the communities of users, developers and researchers will be able to freely use and/or modify the application.

Dor torácica é sintoma frequente em pacientes com cardiomiopatia crônica da doença de Chagas (CCDC). Embora, em muitos casos seja atribuído empiricamente a defeitos transitórios (isquêmicos) encontrados em cintilografia de perfusão miocárdica (CPM), ainda não há evidências científicas que embasem terapêutica adequada para essa condição. Objetivos: Testar a hipótese de que ocorra redução > 50% do déficit perfusional transitório e melhora sintomática e de qualidade de vida após tratamento oral com verapamil e ácido acetilsalicílico (AAS) em pacientes com CCDC e dor torácica. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo, unicêntrico, que incluiu pacientes submetidos a cinecoronariografia por dor torácica, em que não foram identificadas lesões obstrutivas coronarianas significativas (>30%) e não apresentavam disfunção ventricular moderada ou grave. Alterações de mobilidade segmentar na ventriculografia contrastada e epidemiologia sugestiva apontaram para CCDC, que foi confirmada por dois testes sorológicos distintos. Isquemia microvascular foi comprovada por CPM com escore diferencial (Summed Difference Score (SDS) >= 1). Avaliação de dor torácica e qualidade de vida foi realizada por aplicação de Questionário de Angina de Seattle (QAS) e EQ-5D no momento da inclusão e após 3 meses de tratamento com verapamil e AAS, quando a CPM também foi repetida. As comparações pré e pós-tratamento do EQ-5D, QAS e SDS na CPM foi realizada através de teste de Wilcoxon para amostras pareadas e não normalmente distribuídas. Resultados: Vinte e seis pacientes de ambos os gêneros (58% de mulheres), idade média de 64 ±10 anos, apresentaram melhora significativa de 62,5% no SDS após o tratamento (4,5 [4-9] vs 2 [0-4.25], p<0.001). Dos 26 pacientes, 20 apresentaram melhora do SDS, dentre os quais, 10 com SDS igual a zero, ou seja, sem evidência de déficit perfusional transitório após o tratamento. Em 4 pacientes não houve mudança no SDS e apenas 2 apresentaram piora do SDS. Houve melhora significativa no valor indexado do EQ-5D após os 3 meses de tratamento (0,63±0,11 vs 0,77±0,17, p<0.001), assim como nas 5 subáreas que compõem o QAS (p<0,001).Conclusões: O uso combinado de vasodilatador microvascular e antiplaquetário (verapamil + AAS) associou-se a significativa redução dos defeitos perfusionais transitórios sugestivos de isquemia microvascular e a melhora de dor torácica e qualidade de vida em pacientes com CCDC. Este estudo pioneiro embasa investigações futuras no intuito de sedimentar evidências, comparar a placebo por exemplo, com intuito de definir terapêutica em pacientes com CCDC sintomáticos com distúrbios microvasculares. / Chest pain is a common symptom in patients with chronic Chagas disease cardiomyopathy (CCDC). Although this might be explained by myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) evidence of regional microvascular disturbances in patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries, there is no standard evidence based therapy for this condition. Purpose: Evaluate the impact of verapamil and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on symptoms, quality of life and myocardial perfusion defects in CDC patients with chest pain and microvascular ischemia. Methods: 26 patients were evaluated in this clinical trial. CCDC was confirmed by 2 serologic tests. All of them had chest pain and no significant epicardial coronary artery lesions by coronarography or moderate/severe ventricle systolic dysfunction by left ventriculography. Questionnaires to evaluate quality of life (EQ-5D) and chest pain symptoms (Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ)) and SPECT MPS (physical stress preferably) were performed before and three months after treatment with oral verapamil and ASA. Comparison of pre and post EQ-5D/SAQ and SPECT perfusion results were performed using Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired data. Results: Mean age was 64 ± 10 years, 15 (57,7%) men. SDS was significantly reduced by 55,6% after treatment (4,5 [4-9] vs 2 [0-4.25], p<0.001). Decrease in SDS was observed in 20 (77%) participants, of those ten (38,5%) exhibited a post-treatment SDS equals zero, i.e., had no more evidence of stress induced perfusion abnormalities. Four patients (15,3%) maintained SDS values and only 2 (7,7%) increased SDS after 3 months of medications. In the evaluation of quality of life and symptoms, enhancement in EQ-5D values (index value: 0,63±0,11 vs 0,77±0,17, p<0.001) and in all dimensions of QAS post treatment were also significant (improve > 10 points each, p<0,001). Conclusions: The combined use of a microvascular vasodilator and an antiplatelet agent seems to improve quality of life and chest pain symptoms and reduce ischemic perfusion abnormalities in patients with CCDC significantly. This study paved the way for an ongoing investigation aimed at getting more definitive evidence of benefit withthese drugs as compared to placebo in CCDC and idiopathic microvascular derangements.

Introdução: Na investigação não invasiva da doença arterial coronariana (DAC), destacam-se como métodos anatômicos de acurácia elevada a tomografia computadorizada (TC) para avaliação do Escore de Cálcio (EC) e a angiotomografia de coronárias (Angio-TC), e como método funcional a tomografia por emissão de pósitrons com Rubídio-82 (PET com 82Rb). As informações destes métodos se complementam e apresentam grande capacidade de ajudar na decisão terapêutica. Entretanto, muitas vezes, apenas um destes métodos está disponível na prática clínica, com destaque para a recente expansão da Angio-TC. Objetivos: Avaliar dois métodos diagnósticos não invasivos de referência quanto a análise anatômica e funcional coronariana e demonstrar a correlação entre a carga aterosclerótica pelo EC e o grau de obstrução coronariana pela Angio-TC com alterações de perfusão miocárdica através do PET com 82Rb. Material e Métodos: Estudo de corte transversal que incluiu 96 pacientes com suspeita de DAC significativa que realizaram PET com 82Rb sob estresse farmacológico no Departamento de Radiologia/Medicina Nuclear do InCor-HCFMUSP no período de junho a outubro de 2013, e que foram submetidos a Angio-TC dentro de até 30 dias. Placas coronarianas pela Angio-TC foram caracterizadas quando extensão, severidade e composição. Isquemia pelo PET com 82Rb foi definido como diferença entre os escores de estresse e repouso (SDS) maior ou igual a 2, e reserva de fluxo miocárdico (RFM) reduzido quando menor que 2. Resultados: Houve equilíbrio na distribuição do sexo (51% feminino), com média de idade de aproximadamente 59 anos. A hipertensão foi o fator de risco predominante (85%), seguida de dislipidemia (72%) e diabetes (35%). Angina foi o sintoma mais frequente (48%). As doses totais de radiação dos exames de TC foram relativamente baixas, sobretudo quando realizado no aparelho de 320 detectores (média de 2,79 mSv). A média do EC foi de 209,98 ± 488,68. O EC, principalmente quando maior que 400, teve forte associação com isquemia (razão de chances: 35,2; intervalo de confiança [IC] de 95%: 6,4 - 193,4). Estenose coronariana obstrutiva ( > 50%) pela Angio-TC também se correlacionou com maior risco de isquemia, especialmente quando a lesão detectada foi maior que 70% (razão de chances: 24,8; IC 95%: 7,6 - 80,3). Após ajustes para demais variáveis, tanto EC quanto estenose coronariana permaneceram associadas de forma independente. A combinação destas duas avaliações teve bom desempenho no diagnóstico de isquemia (área sobre a curva: 0,85; IC 95%: 0,74 - 0,95). Com relação à composição de placas, pacientes com RFM diminuída tiveram uma proporção significativamente maior de placas não-calcificadas e mistas do que aqueles com RFM preservada (p=0,006). Mais importante, estes tipos de composição de placa estiveram de forma independente associados com redução da RFM (razão de chances: 1,48; IC 95% 1,11 - 2,04). Conclusão: A Angio-TC e o EC se mostraram importantes preditores anatômicos, isolados e associados, na identificação de isquemia utilizando o PET com 82Rb como referência. Placas mistas e não-calcificadas se correlacionam com redução de RFM. Estas informações tem um importante papel na estratificação de risco cardiovascular de pacientes com DAC / Background: In the investigation of coronary artery disease (CAD), two highly accurate non-invasive methods play central roles, being the Coronary Computed Tomography (CTA) with Calcium Score (CS) the preferred exam for anatomical assessment, and Rubidium-82 PET-CT (82Rb PET/CT) for functional perfusional analysis. This information enables decision-making for clinicians on most settings, but unfortunately, only one of these exams is available on most medical centers, mostly CTA, which is now widely used worldwide. Objectives: To evaluate two reference non-invasive methods for CAD assessment, and demonstrate the correlation between plaque burden and anatomical stenosis degree, seen on CTA with CS, with the perfusional profile seen on 82Rb PET/CT. Methods: 96 individuals who performed 82Rb PET/CT for the evaluation of significant CAD at the Nuclear Medicine Department of the Heart Institute (InCor) of the University of Sao Paulo Medical School from June to October 2013 were included. CTA was performed during PET or scheduled during the next 30 days on a different scanner for the remaining patients. Coronary plaques on CTA/CS were then evaluated regarding extension, composition and flow-limiting stenosis degree. 82Rb PET/CT perfusion impairment was defined as present when rest and stress score difference (SDS) was >= 2, or when quantitative myocardial flow reserve (MFR) was under 2. Results: Mean age was 59 years old, and gender was balanced in the sample (female 51%). Hypertension was the most prevalent CAD risk factor (85%), followed by dyslipidemia (72%) and diabetes (35%). Chest pain was present in almost half the population (48%). Effective radiation exposure was low, especially when CTA was performed on the 320MDCT scanner (mean 2,79 mSv). Mean calcium score was 209,98 ± 488,68, demonstrating a strong association with ischemia, especially when above 400 (odds ratio: 35,2; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 6,4 - 193,4). Flow-limiting coronary stenosis (> 50%) seen on CTA also correlated with ischemia, especially when superior to 70% (odds ratio: 24,8; 95%CI: 7,6 - 80,3). After adjustment for other independent variables, either CS and CTA remained independently associated with ischemia. The combination of these two variables had a good performance for the detection of ischemia (area under curve: 0,85; 95%CI: 0,74 - 0,95). Regarding plaque composition, patients with mixed or noncalcified plaques were more likely to present decreased MFR (p=0,006). More importantly, these plaques were independently associated to reduced MFR (odds ratio: 1,48; 95%CI: 1,11 - 2,04). Conclusions: CTA and CS were important anatomical predictors of ischemia, either isolated or in association, using 82Rb PET/CT as reference. The presence of mixed or noncalcified plaques was significantly associated to decrease in MFR. These information are of emerging importance for DAC evaluation and management