Use of a Single 11C-Meta-Hydroxyephedrine Scan for Assessing Flow-Innervation Mismatches in Patients with Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Abstract

Mismatch between areas of reduced myocardial blood flow (MBF) and reduced myocardial innervation (defect areas) may be used to estimate the risk for ventricular arrhythmias. The presence of a mismatch zone can be derived using a combined protocol consisting of both an MBF scan and an (11)C-meta-hydroxyephedrine ((11)C-HED) scan. The rate of influx from blood to myocardium (K1) of (11)C-HED is proportional to MBF and can potentially be used as an index for defining MBF defects. The aim of this study was to assess whether K1 derived from an (11)C-HED scan can be used as an index of MBF, potentially allowing for an assessment of MBF-innervation mismatch areas from a single (11)C-HED scan.