Myocardial perfusion imaging with 99mTc sestamibi early after reperfusion reliably reflects infarct size reduction by ischaemic preconditioning in an experimental porcine model

Objective Reliable methods for assessment of tissue reperfusion early after revascularizing therapy for acute myocardial infarction are needed. Myocardial perfusion imaging with Tc-99m sestamibi (MIBI MPI) may serve this purpose. Usage during early reperfusion may be problematic e.g. due to ischaemic preconditioning (IP), which is important in inducing ischaemic tolerance. It is mediated through the opening of mitochondrial K+ ATP channels, reducing mitochondrial membrane potential. This may, as well as ischaemia per se, affect cellular uptake of Tc-99m sestamibi. We therefore studied the reliability of MIBI MPI during early reperfusion as a measure of infarct size and its reduction by ischaemic preconditioning. Methods and results We compared MIBI MPI (cut-off, 45% of maximum pixel count) with a histochemical method in a porcine model, nine controls and eight IP pigs, using 45 min catheter based coronary occlusion of the left anterior descending artery. Infarct size (IS) was determined relative to the area at risk (AAR). The relative infarct size IS/AAR) after 120 min reperfusion estimated by MPI was 0.83 (0.17) in controls vs 0.07 (0.12) in the IP group (mean (SD), P < 0.001). The corresponding values for histochemistry were controls 0.77 (0.19) vs IP 0.07 (0.11), P < 0.001. IS/AAR measured by MPI and histochemistry were correlated significantly (r = 0.93, P < 0.001). Furthermore, IS relative to left ventricular mass (IS/LV) determined by autoradiography and histochemistry correlated (r = 0.93, P < 0.001). MPI overestimated IS/LV and AAR/LV by approximately a factor of 2 compared with histochemistry or autoradiography. Conclusion MIBI MIDI during early reperfusion is a reliable measure of relative infarct size reduction after ischaemic preconditioning, supporting use for stratification for adjunctive therapy and for assessment of prognosis.