VALUE OF NONINVASIVE SCINTIGRAPHIC EVALUA TION OF PULMONARY BLOOD-PRESSURE IN PATIENTS WITH PRIOR ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

Twenty two patients with a history of acute myocardial infarction unde rwent pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy at rest and during bicycle exer cise testing. Tc-99m-labelled human albumin microspheres were used. Th e perfusion, ratio in the upper and lower pulmonary regions (U/L ratio ) was calculated from scintigraphic findings. There was a close correl ation between mean pulmonary blood pressure and U/L ratio (r=0.95). It was established that the absence of microcirculatory bed reserve scin tigraphically revealed in the lesser circulation in patients with prio r myocardial infarction may be considered to be a negative predicator.