1. University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Turku PET Centre
Journal of Nuclear Cardiology | Official Journal of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
The Role of Nuclear Cardiac Imaging in Risk Stratification of Sudden Cardiac Death
Daniel Juneau, Fernanda Erthal, Benjamin J.W. Chow, Calum Redpath, Terrence D. Ruddy, Juhani Knuuti, Rob S. Beanlands
University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Turku PET Centre
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2. Journal of Nuclear Cardiology | Official Journal of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
BACKGROUND
1- Sudden cardiac death (SCD) accounts for a significant proportion of all cardiac deaths.
2- Current primary prevention guidelines focus mainly on LVEF measurement.
3- Used alone, LVEF lacks both sensitivity and specificity in predicting SCD.
4- Nuclear cardiac imaging has the potential to help us better understand and predict SCD.
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3. Potential imaging targets
Journal of Nuclear Cardiology | Official Journal of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
Potential imaging targets
Ischemia, scar and hibernating myocardium
LV function assessment
Flow quantification
Metabolic imaging
Neurohormonal imaging
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4. (201Tl or 99mTc Sestamibi/Tetrofosmin)
Journal of Nuclear Cardiology | Official Journal of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
RESULTS
Table 1: Overview of the different modalities and their uses
Target
Imaging modality
Clinical relevance
Guidelines Support
LVEF
RNA (MUGA)
SPECT MPI
PET MPI
LVEF is the most used predictor of SCD at present.
RNA is one of the most accurate and reliable modalities for LVEF measurement – it is used in assessment pre ICD therapy36–39.
Primary Prevention:
LVEF is used to guide ICD therapy in primary prevention of SCD- see Table 2
Re-evaluation of LVEF 6–12 weeks after myocardial infarction is recommended to assess the potential need for primary prevention ICD implantation – Class 1/C9,29,31.
Areas of ischemia/scar
(201Tl or 99mTc Sestamibi/Tetrofosmin)
(82Rb or 13NH3)
Ischemia is a reversible cause of SCD46.
Perfusion scans can guide revascularization before ICD therapy.
Scar presence can help guide catheter ablation therapy9.
Scar is associated with increased risk of SCD44,57,58,60.
VT/VF:
Stress echocardiography or SPECT is recommended to detect silent ischemia in patients with VT/VF who have an intermediate probability of having CAD and abnormal ECG - Class 1/B9.
Urgent catheter ablation is recommended in patients with scar-related heart disease presenting with incessant VT or electrical storm - Class 1/B9.
Prompt and complete coronary revascularization is recommended to treat myocardial ischemia that may be present in patients with recurrent VT or VF - Class 1/C9,31.
No specific recommendations regarding primary prevention of SCD.
Ischemia imaging is recommended to direct revascularization in stable ischemic heart disease (Class IIa/B) and in heart failure(Class IIa/C )30,136–139.
Note: in patients with stable ischemic heart disease; ischemia directed revascularization is being evaluated in the ISCHEMIA Trial ( and in patients with ischemic heart failure, ischemia imaging is being compared in the AIMI-HF (IMAGE HF I-A) trial140.
Myocardial blood flow
(82Rb, 15O-H2O or 13NH3)
Impaired stress MBF and coronary flow reserve are associated with VT and possible SCD54.
No specific recommendations with regard to patients with VT/VF nor primary prevention of SCD.
Position Statement from the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging is under development.
Viable myocardium
PET Viability
(perfusion/18F-FDG)
SPECT
Viable [hibernating] myocardium is an unstable electrical region and it is associated with an increased risk of SCD59.
The extent of perfusion-metabolism mismatch [hibernation] can guide therapy60,62–64.
No specific recommendations with respect to patients with VT/VF or primary prevention of SCD.
Viability imaging is recommended to direct revascularization in patients with heart failure and CAD (Class IIa/B-C)30,137,138.
Note: in patients with ischemic heart failure, viability imaging is being compared in the AIMI-HF (IMAGE HF I-A) trial140.
Neurohormonal
(cardiac sympathetic innervation)
SPECT (MIBG)
PET (11C-HED)
The volume of denervated myocardium as a continuous value is a strong independent predictor of SCD92.
Sympathetic innervation anomalies are associated with ventricular arrhythmias23,68, appropriate ICD therapy and increased risk of SCD73,74,77,92.
No specific recommendations with regard to patients with VT/VF or primary prevention of SCD.
Note: MIBG SPECT is FDA approved for human use for scintigraphic assessment of myocardial sympathetic innervation in patient with heart failure and LVEF ≤ 35% [Iobenguane Iodine-123 package insert; GE Healthcare].
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5. Journal of Nuclear Cardiology | Official Journal of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
RESULTS
Table 2: Role of LVEF in Current Guidelines for ICD Implantation in Primary Prevention9,29–31
Indication
LVEF Cut-off
Class of Recommendation
Patients with symptomatic HF (NYHA class II or III), ischemic cause, more than 40 days post-MI, on adequate medical therapy.
≤35% I
Patient with symptomatic HF (NYHA class II or III), non-ischemic cause, on adequate medical therapy.
Patient with LV dysfunction secondary to MI, asymptomatic (NYHA class I) more than 40 days post-MI, on adequate medical therapy.
≤30%
Patient with non-sustained VT due to prior MI with inducible VF or sustained VT at electrophysiology study.
≤40%
Patient with asymptomatic (NYHA class I) non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.
IIb
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6. Journal of Nuclear Cardiology | Official Journal of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
RESULTS
Figure 7. This otherwise healthy 57 year old female presented with new onset complete heart block and no pertinent prior medical history. Echocardiogram was normal, including normal LVEF. Because there was a suspicion for sarcoidosis, she underwent 18F-FDG PET-CT. Wholebody 18F-FDG PET (A) images revealed extensive active systemic sarcoid, with active lesions in the lungs, nodes, spleen and bones. Cardiac involvement was present. 82Rb MPI PET revealed areas of decreased perfusion mainly in the septum and inferior walls (B) while dedicated ECG-gated 18F-FDG myocardial acquisition (C) revealed areas of severely increased uptake in the septal, anterior and inferior walls. The decision was taken to go ahead with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation. The patient received appropriate, life-saving shock 10 months later for ventricular fibrillation arrest.
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7. Journal of Nuclear Cardiology | Official Journal of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
CONCLUSIONS
1- Identifying patients at increased risk of SCD can lead to life-saving therapy.
2- Identifying these patients remains a challenge.
3- Nuclear cardiac imaging offers multiple new pathways to identify patients at increased risk.
4- New risk prediction algorithms incorporating these new risk factors need to be validated.
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