Capabilities of 123I-MIBG scintigraphy and gated blood-pool spect in predicting the results of cardiac resynchronization therapy

Purpose. To assess the diagnostic value of scintigraphy parameters of sympathetic activity and mechanical dyssynchrony of the heart for prediction of the results of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).Material and Methods. The study included 28 patients with functional class III (NYHA) chronic heart failure referred for CRT. Before operation, a set of scintigraphic studies was performed to evaluate mechanical dyssynchrony, the state of cardiac sympathetic innervation, and perfusion. Clinical status, volume indices, and contractility of both cardiac ventricles were evaluated 6 months after CRT. After that, all patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 included CRT responders (n=15); group 2 comprised non-responders (n=13).Results. Significant differences between groups were found in the following baseline parameters: early heart-to-mediastinum ratio (H/M) (2.42 and 1.87; p