The relationship between cardiac single-photon emission computed tomography imaging score of chronic Keshan disease and the biomarkers of heart failure

Objectives To explore the relationship between cardiac single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging score of patients with chronic Keshan disease and the markers of heart failure. Methods Twenty-one Keshan disease patients were examined with 99mTc-MIBI SPECT and myocardial images were scored with 20-segment model. The N-terminal pro- B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), osteopontin (OPN), matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP1), soluble growth stimulating express gene 2 (sST2), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured with ELISA and colorimetry. Spearman correlation was conducted between cardiac SPECT image scores and the biomarkers. Results The four-category scores of apex, distal, mid and base were 0.93 ± 0.03, 0.73 ± 0.34, 0.97 ± 0.24 and 1.67 ± 0.23, and the average score of 20 segments was 1.10 ± 0.46; the two-category scores of apex, distal, mid and base were 0.83 ± 0.03, 0.65 ± 0.25, 0.83 ± 0.16 and 1.00 ± 0.00, and the average score of 20 segments was 0.83 ± 0.21. Spearman correlation analysis showed that SPECT binary scores were statistically correlated with cTnI (r = - 0.467, P< 0.05) and OPN (r = - 0.502, P< 0.05). Conclusion The cardiac SPECT image of the patients with chronic Keshan disease may have reference value in evaluating heart failure and cardiac remodeling of the patients. Key words: Chronic Keshan disease; Single-Photon emission computed tomography; Heart failure; Myocardial injury; Biomarker