Myocardial perfusion, function, and dyssynchrony in patients with heart failure: baseline results from the single-photon emission computed tomography imaging ancillary study of the Heart Failure and A Controlled Trial Investigating Outcomes of Exercise TraiNing (HF-ACTION) Trial.
BACKGROUND
There are currently limited data on the relationships between resting perfusion abnormalities, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, and exercise capacity as defined by peak VO(2) and 6-minute walk test in patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced LVEF. Furthermore, the association between resting perfusion abnormalities and left ventricular dyssynchrony is currently unknown. This article addresses the Heart Failure and A Controlled Trial Investigating Outcomes of Exercise TraiNing (HF-ACTION) gated SPECT imaging (gSPECT) substudy baseline results.


METHODS
HF-ACTION was a multicenter, randomized controlled trial of aerobic exercise training versus usual care in 2,331 stable patients with LVEF of < or = 35% and NYHA class II to IV HF symptoms treated with optimal medical therapy. Subjects enrolled in the HF-ACTION substudy underwent resting Tc-99m tetrofosmin gSPECT at baseline (n = 240). Images were evaluated for extent and severity of perfusion abnormalities using a 17-segment and a 5-degree gradation severity score (summed rest score [SRS]). Left ventricular function and dyssynchrony were assessed using validated available commercial software.


RESULTS
The average age of patients enrolled was 59, 69% were male, 63% were white, and 33% were African American. Of the 240 participants, 129 (54%) were ischemic and 111 (46%) were nonischemic in etiology. The median LVEF by gSPECT for the entire cohort was 26%. Among the nuclear variables, there was a modest correlation between LVEF and SRS (r = -0.31, P < .0001) and there were stronger correlations between phase SD and SRS (r = 0.66, P < .0001) as well as phase SD and LVEF (r = -0.50, P < .0001). Patients with NYHA class III symptoms had more severe and significant degrees of dyssynchrony (median phase SD 54 degrees ) than those with NYHA class II symptoms (median phase SD 39 degrees, P = .001). Patients with an ischemic etiology had a higher SRS (P < .0001) and significantly more dyssynchrony (P < .0001) than those who were nonischemic. However, there was no difference in LVEF or objective measures of exercise capacity between these groups. With respect to peak VO(2), there was a weak correlation with LVEF (r = 0.18, P = .006) and no correlation with SRS (r = -0.04, P = 0.59) or with dyssynchrony (r = -0.13, P = .09). A weak but statistically significant correlation between SRS and 6-minute walk was observed (r = -0.15, P = .047).


CONCLUSIONS
Gated SPECT imaging can provide important information in patients with HF due to severe LV dysfunction including quantitative measures of global systolic function, perfusion, and dyssynchrony. These measurements are modestly but significantly related to symptom severity and objective measures of exercise capacity.
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Allen E
AE
Atchley
Dalane W
DW
Kitzman
David J
DJ
Whellan
Ami E
AE
Iskandrian
Stephen J
SJ
Ellis
Robert A
RA
Pagnanelli
Andrew
A
Kao
Khaled
K
Abdul-Nour
Christopher M
CM
O'Connor
Greg
G
Ewald
William E
WE
Kraus
Salvador
S
Borges-Neto
D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D003625:Data Collection; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology
D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; C078700:technetium tc-99m tetrofosmin