Non-imaging nuclear monitoring of left ventricular function: twenty-five years of technical development and clinical experience.
Although the first non-imaging nuclear probe for clinical application was already available 25 years ago, this technique is still underused for the assessment of ventricular function. Over the years substantial technological progress rendered nuclear probes more accurate and easier to use, and so far the applicability of these devices has been evaluated in several experimental and clinical contexts. Bedside devices can be used in the evaluation of hemodynamically unstable patients and of drug therapy. In patients with several heart diseases, particularly with ischemic cardiomyopathy, accurate information on the changes in ventricular function occurring during routine activities, as well as during structured activities, can be provided using the ambulatory probes. This review will focus on the development and clinical application of these diagnostic tools.
Dellegrottaglie
Santo
S
Department of Clinical Medicine, Cardiovascular and Immunological Sciences, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Filardi
Pasquale Perrone
PP
Pace
Leonardo
L
Ponticelli
Maria Paola
MP
Corrado
Luigi
L
Cafiero
Maria
M
Polimeno
Michele
M
Camerino
Roberta
R
Chiariello
Massimo
M
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006334:Heart Function Tests / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D015635:Radionuclide Ventriculography / Q000379:methods*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents