Scintigraphic evaluation of regional pulmonary circulation and ventilation abnormalities in mitral valvular disease and congestive heart failure.

Abstract

Regional pulmonary mean transit time, MTT (RV-Lung) was measured by radionuclide angiography using 99mTc-pertechnetate or 99mTc-HSA. In 8 normal subjects, MTT (RV-Lung) in upper (U) and lower (L) lung fields averaged 2.48 and 2.81 sec, respectively. In MS and CHF groups, MTT (RV-Lung) in L was markedly prolonged (5.04 and 5.10 sec, respectively) and after appropriate medical or surgical treatment, MTT in L markedly reduced. Pulmonary ventilation perfusion scintigraphy with 133Xe was performed in 18 patients with MS. Both Vu/L and Ou/L increased in accordance with the severity of disease, however, Vu/L had never exceeded unity. The estimation of regional MTT in the lung field is to be useful way in evaluating the severity of pulmonary circulatory disturbance in MS or in congestive heart failure.