Risk stratification in coronary artery disease: implications for stabilization and prevention.
Noninvasive nuclear imaging techniques, including dual-isotope myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), have been employed in the development of strategies for diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease. These risk-stratification strategies are based on studies in which known outcome has been linked to diagnostic and prognostic information provided by myocardial perfusion SPECT. This article describes a validated dual-isotope exercise protocol for assessment of perfusion and function and reviews the evidence on which a cost-effective risk management strategy is based.
Berman
D
D
Division of Nuclear Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048-1865, USA.
Hachamovitch
R
R
Lewin
H
H
Friedman
J
J
Shaw
L
L
Germano
G
G
D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods