MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION AND LEFT-VENTRICULAR FUNCTION EARLY AFTER SUCCESSFUL PTCA IN 1-VESSEL CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE

Myocardial perfusion ((TI)-T-201-ECT) and contractile function (Tc-99m -ventriculography) were studied during exercise and rest 3 to 6 days a fter PTCA in 20 patients (11 with stable and 9 with unstable angina pe ctoris). All patients had single vessel disease and no previous myocar dial infarction. During exercise after PTCA the ejection fraction incr eased for 3 to 5% and no regional wall motion abnormalities, ST-segmen t depression or perfusion defects occurred (with exception in one pati ent with very early restenosis). Therefore, perfusion and wall motion were completely normalized at rest and during exercise within days aft er technically successful PTCA even in patients with previously unstab le angina pectoris. Pathological stress test results after this time s hould thus be attributed to other causes e.g. early restenosis, multiv essel disease, false positive tests) and are not due to the specific s ituation early after PTCA.