[Right ventricular ischemia evaluated by radionuclide ventriculography]

The clinical usefulness of radionuclide ventriculography (RNV) was evaluated in patients with right ventricular ischemia. The subjects consisted of 25 patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction, 19 patients with old myocardial infarction and six patients with angina pectoris who had severe stenosis of the right coronary artery. In patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction, follow-up radionuclide studies were performed during the recovery periods on the first, 7th-14th, and 30th hospital day. Fifteen of the 25 patients initially had decreased right ventricular ejection fractions (evidence of right ventricular infarction). The mean value was 28 +/- 8% on the initial day, but 7-14 days and 30 days after the acute attack, it improved markedly to 36 +/- 9% and 39 +/- 9%, respectively. Regional wall motion abnormality resolved in 10 of the 15 patients on the 30th hospital day. In 25 patients with old myocardial infarction or with angina pectoris, RNV was performed at rest and during supine exercise to determine the influence or right coronary artery disease. Right ventricular ejection fraction was changed by exercise from 42 +/- 7% to 44 +/- 10% in patients with proximal artery lesions, and from 45 +/- 7% to 50 +/- 10% in patients with distal artery lesions. Right ventricular ejection fraction increased in patients with isolated right coronary artery disease (rest: 44 +/- 8%, exercise: 49 +/- 9%), decreased in patients with combined left anterior descending artery disease (rest: 40 +/- 6%, exercise: 38 +/- 11%) and increased in patients with combined circumflex artery disease (rest: 43 +/- 5%, exercise: 47 +/- 6%). We concluded that right ventricular infarction is a frequent complication in patients with inferior myocardial infarction. However, right ventricular ejection fraction and right ventricular regional wall motion abnormality improve dramatically within one month. Stress-induced ischemia would be rare in patients with isolated right coronary artery disease. The above findings support the notion that the right ventricular myocardium has peculiar coronary perfusions.