Improved myocardial fatty acid utilization after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Exercise-reinjection 201Tl imaging and resting 20-min and 3-hr BMIPP imaging were performed before and 4 mo after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in a patient with effort angina. Before PTCA, exercise 201Tl imaging showed decreased 201Tl activity in the septal wall, with significant fill-in on the reinjection 201Tl image. The resting 20-min BMIPP image showed decreased activity in the septal wall, with a slight redistribution on the 3-hr BMIPP image. The 201Tl and BMIPP images 4 mo after PTCA showed significant improvement in the 201Tl pattern and BMIPP uptake in the septal wall with no abnormally decreased activities.