title: Pilot study testing the effect of physical training over the myocardial perfusion and quality of life in patients with primary microvascular angina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary microvascular angina (PMA) is a common clinical condition associated to negative impact on quality of life (QOL) and reduced physical capacity. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of aerobic physical training (APT) on myocardial perfusion, physical capacity, and QOL in patients with PMA.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated 12 patients (53.8 ± 9.7 years old; 7 women) with PMA, characterized by angina, angiographycally normal coronary arteries, and reversible perfusion defects (RPDs) detected on (99m)Tc-sestamibi-SPECT myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS). At baseline and after 4 month of APT, the patients underwent MPS, cardiopulmonary test, and QOL questionnaire. Stress-rest MPS images were visually analyzed by attributing semi-quantitative scores (0 = normal; 4 = absent uptake), using a 17-segment left ventricular model. Summed stress, rest, and difference scores (SDS) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison to the baseline, in the post-training we observed a significant increase in peak-VO2 (19.4 ± 4.8 and 22.1 ± 6.2 mL·kg(-1)·minute(-1), respectively, P = .01), reduction of SDS (10.1 ± 8.8 and 2.8 ± 4.9, P = .008), and improvement in QOL scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical training in patients with PMA is associated with reduction of myocardial perfusion abnormalities, increasing of physical capacity, and improvement in QOL. The findings of this hypothesis-generating study suggest that APT can be a valid therapeutic option for patients with PMA.
authors: Cardiology Division, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Eduardo Elias Vieira
authors: EE
authors: de Carvalho
authors: Giovani Luiz
authors: GL
authors: Santi
authors: Júlio César
authors: JC
authors: Crescêncio
authors: Luciano Fonseca Lemos
authors: LF
authors: de Oliveira
authors: Daniela Caetano Costa
authors: DC
authors: dos Reis
authors: Alexandre Baldini
authors: AB
authors: Figueiredo
authors: Antonio Osvaldo
authors: AO
authors: Pintya
authors: Moyses Oliveira
authors: MO
authors: Lima-Filho
authors: Lourenço
authors: L
authors: Gallo-Júnior
authors: José Antonio
authors: JA
authors: Marin-Neto
authors: Marcus Vinícius
authors: MV
authors: Simões
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017566:Microvascular Angina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi