Acute pulmonary edema caused by prolonged myocardial stunning after Dipyridamole-Thallium imaging

Abstract

D ipyridamole-thallium imaging is routinely used in clinical practice to detect coronary artery disease in patients unable to exercise. Major side effects such as prolonged ischemia or symptomatic hypotension are uncommon and respond rapidly to administration of intravenous aminophylline [1]. Catastrophic events such as myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest have been reported but are not common [2,3]. We describe a unique case of myocardial stunning (defined as prolonged but reversible post-ischemic regional ventricular dysfunction [4]) and acute pulmonary edema during dipyridamole-thallium imaging.