Abnormal free fatty acid uptake in subacute myocardial infarction after coronary thrombolysis: correlation with wall motion and inotropic reserve.

UNLABELLED: Iodine-123-free fatty acid analogs, such as beta-methyliodophenylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP), allow for myocardial metabolic studies with SPECT. The goal of this investigation was to determine whether BMIPP uptake can be used to differentiate viable myocardium from scar tissue soon after coronary thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: BMIPP and 99mTc-sestamibi (MIBI) myocardial distribution after injection at rest were analyzed in 22 patients 4 to 10 days after coronary thrombolysis. The relative uptake of the two tracers was compared on a segmental basis to the regional wall motion and to the inotropic reserve assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography and low-dose dobutamine stimulation. RESULTS: Three segmental patterns were identified in the infarct-related coronary artery territory. Segments with normal BMIPP and MIBI uptake showed…