X-syndrome: myocardial perfusion during stress testing

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Nuclear Medicine
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• X-syndrome patients present with clinical symptoms suggestive of ischemic heart disease (IHD).
• The functional cardiac status in X-syndrome requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess myocardial perfusion abnormalities in patients with X-syndrome using stress scintigraphy.
• To compare perfusion defects in X-syndrome with those in patients with established IHD.

Main Methods:

• Stress T1-201 myocardial scintigraphy was performed on 16 patients with X-syndrome.
• A bicycle exercise test was utilized to induce stress.
• 11 patients with single-vessel IHD served as controls.

Main Results:

• All 16 X-syndrome patients displayed myocardial perfusion abnormalities during stress.
• Perfusion defects in X-syndrome were comparable to moderate, hemodynamically significant single-vessel IHD.
• Defects were less severe than in patients with subtotal coronary artery occlusion.

Conclusions:

• X-syndrome is associated with marked, stress-induced myocardial perfusion defects.
• These findings suggest functional myocardial ischemia in X-syndrome, mirroring aspects of IHD.