Prognostic significance of cardiac 123I metaiodobenzylguanidine imaging for mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic heart failure: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE To determine whether cardiac iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine ( 123 I MIBG) imaging is useful in predicting the prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure. DESIGN Cardiac 123 I MIBG imaging was done on entry to the study. The cardiac MIBG washout rate was calculated from anterior chest view images obtained 20 and 200 minutes after injection of the isotope. Study patients were divided into two groups with washout rates above and below 27% (the mean value + 2 SD obtained in 20 normal subjects), and were then followed up. SETTING Tertiary referral centre. PATIENTS 79 patients with chronic heart failure in whom the left ventricular ejection fraction was less than 40%. RESULTS There were 37 patients in group 1 (washout rate of ⩾ 27%) and 42 in group 2 ( CONCLUSIONS Cardiac 123 I MIBG washout rate seems to be a good predictor of prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure.