Physiologic and clinical significance of myocardial blood flow quantitation: what is expected from these measurements in the clinical ward and in the physiology laboratory?

Cardiology
J A Bianco, J S Alpert

Abstract

In this essay we review data on absolute quantitation of myocardial blood flow (MBF) in humans. Earlier work established that coronary heart disease (CAD) can be detected by coronary angiography and that this disease has characteristic features at rest and during stress, which indicate the linkage between regional metabolic needs and myocardial perfusion. In the 1970s myocardial perfusion was mapped in patients with radioxenon, but this method had significant technical limitations. About the same time, radioactive microspheres were introduced for cardiovascular research and investigations; these particles provided insights on MBF in acute infarction and ischemia, myocardial reperfusion, collateral circulation, myocardial blood flow during exercise, coronary flow reserve (CFR), and layer-to-layer distribution of MBF. Studies with microspheres also permitted investigators to establish the presence in the heart of MBF heterogeneity. Currently, there are several techniques that aim at extending these concepts into clinical investigation. Two of these techniques, i.e. Doppler coronary flow velocity and fast magnetic resonance imaging assess epicardial flow dynamics and CFR. Contrast myocardial echocardiography is another novel techn...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 12, 2002·Magnetic Resonance in Medicine : Official Journal of the Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine·Melanie SchmittWolfgang G Schreiber
Mar 28, 2006·Seminars in Ultrasound, CT, and MR·Michael Jerosch-HeroldNorbert Wilke
Jul 1, 2015·International Journal of Endocrinology·Carlo Dal LinElena Osto

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