Positron emission tomography application for myocardial blood flow and coronary flow reserve measurement in patients with cardiovascular pathology

Abstract

This article summarizes data of the studies with positron emission tomography (PET) and devotes the clinical application of PET for myocardial blood flow and coronary flow reserve measurement in the patients with cardiovascular pathology. Measurement of myocardial blood flow and coronary flow reserve allows to assess the functional importance of coronary stenosis in patients with coronary heart disease. According the results of experimental and clinical studies the impairment of coronary vasomotor reactivity seems to be the main cause of coronary microcirculatory abnormalities in the patients with high risk of cardiovascular diseases. Noninvasive PET diagnostics of myocardial blood flow provides the valuable information for stratification of the risk of the severe cardiovascular complications. PET seems to be a good tool for assessment of the medical treatment efficiency of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia and hypoestrogenemia. Myocardial blood flow impairment is independent prognostic marker of future adverse cardiac events and sudden cardiac death in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.