title: Immunohistochemical-scintigraphic correlation of sympathetic cardiac innervation in postischemic left ventricular aneurysms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was conceived to explore the correspondence between scintigraphic imaging of the sympathetic innervation of human postischemic left ventricular aneurysms and direct immunohistochemical localization of the nerve fibers in the same area.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 7 patients undergoing left ventricular aneurysmectomy for postischemic ventricular aneurysm, the findings of thallium 201 and metaiodobenzylguanidine myocardial scintigraphy were compared with direct immunohistochemical localization of the nerve fibers in the same area. This comparison showed good correspondence between scintigraphic and immunohistochemical data, although scintigraphy failed to detect areas of minimal sympathetic innervation. Moreover, microscopic analysis showed sympathetic nerve fibers with peculiar morphology and distribution in the aneurysmal zone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a good correspondence between immunohistochemical and scintigraphic imaging in the detection of sympathetic cardiac nerves in human left ventricular aneurysms; a morphologically abnormal sympathetic reinnervation can be found in the aneurysmal area (although denervation can persist in some zones).
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. mgaudino@tiscalinet.it
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaudino
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santarelli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alessandrini
authors.forename: Stefania Lucia
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Nori
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trani
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gaudino
authors.forename: Gianfederico
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Possati
mesh_terms: D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011868:Radioisotopes; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000473:pathology*; D013793:Thallium; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000473:pathology; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine; C027549:thallium chloride; D013793:Thallium