Exercise radionuclide ventriculography in evaluating successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)

To evaluate late success of PTCA in 29 patients with coronary artery disease, exercise radionuclide ventriculography was performed. Twenty-nine patients were classified into two groups according to the presence of restenosis (Group N: 19 patients without restenosis, Group R: 10 patients with restenosis). LVEF improved significantly in Group N, and the sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy for detecting restenosis were 100%, 68% and 79%, respectively. Regional wall motion abnormality during exercise did not worsened in Group N, and the sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy for detecting restenosis were 89%, 96%, and 94%, respectively. The left ventricular end-systolic volume during exercise increased in group R but decreased in Group N. The exercise response of the ratio of systolic blood pressure to end-systolic volume in Group N was significantly larger than that of Group R, and was considered to be useful parameter for detecting restenosis.