Long-term prognostic value of 201Tl single-photon emission computed tomographic myocardial perfusion imaging after coronary stenting

Background The prognostic value of 201Tl myocardial imaging has been demonstrated in several studies concerning patients with a known significant coronary artery disease. However, the evolution of a coronary stenosis after stenting is difficult to predict. This study was designed to assess the prognostic value of 201Tl single-photon emission computed tomography (thallium SPECT) perfusion imaging in patients after intracoronary stenting. Methods One hundred fifty-two patients were studied. They were followed up during 40 ± 13 (mean ± SD) months after thallium SPECT. Stent-related events were studied after thallium stress testing and included cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and revascularization. Stress thallium imaging was performed 5 ± 2 months after stenting, and ischemia was considered to be present if at least 2 contiguous segments were showing reversible defects. Results Only 3 (3%) among the 105 nonischemic patients had major cardiac events during the follow-up versus 13 (28%) of the 47 ischemic patients (P < .001) after thallium SPECT. The relative risk of major cardiac events for patients with significant ischemia was 10.5 compared with nonischemic patients (P < .001). Fourteen (30%) of the ischemic patients and 8 (8%) among the nonischemic patients underwent iterative revascularization (P < .001). Therefore, only 11 (10%) of the nonischemic patients had major cardiac events or revascularization compared with 24 (51%) of the ischemic patients (P < .001). Conclusions Absence of ischemia on thallium SPECT imaging at 5 months after coronary stenting indicates a low risk for cardiovascular events or interventional procedure. These results may have important clinical implications in patient treatment. (Am Heart J 2001;141:999-1006.)