title: Nuclear cardiology and heart failure.
abstract: The prevalence of heart failure in the adult population is increasing. It varies between 1% and 2%, although it mainly affects elderly people (6-10% of people over the age of 65 years will develop heart failure). The syndrome of heart failure arises as a consequence of an abnormality in cardiac structure, function, rhythm, or conduction. Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of heart failure and it accounts for this disorder in 60-70% of all patients affected. Nuclear techniques provide unique information on left ventricular function and perfusion by gated-single photon emission tomography (SPECT). Myocardial viability can be assessed by both SPECT and PET imaging. Finally, autonomic dysfunction has been shown to increase the risk of death in patients with heart disease and this may be applicable to all patients with cardiac disease regardless of aetiology. MIBG scanning has a very promising prognostic value in patients with heart failure.
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Brescia, Piazza Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy. giubbini@med.unibs.it
authors: Raffaele
authors: R
authors: Giubbini
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Milan
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Bertagna
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Mut
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Metra
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Rodella
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Dondi
mesh_terms: D002309:Cardiology / Q000379:methods*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009683:Nuclear Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014022:Tissue Survival; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology