Reverse redistribution: Revisited with myocardial contrast echocardiography

The aim of this study is to better understand the pattern and nature of rev erse redistribution (RR) in myocardial perfusion imaging. In 20 consecutive acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients, frequency of RR was correlated with that of subendocardial MI that was detected by myocardial contrast ech ocardiography (MCE). RR was judged to be present when there was more than o ne grade of worsening in perfusion on 24 hr delayed images compared with th e initial rest images. MCE evaluated no opacification in the subendocardial myocardium to suggest subendocardial MI. Kendall's nonparametric correlation coefficiency was calculated. Concordant cases were 15 of 20 (75%) and correlation was statistically significant (p = 0.0285). Our results suggested that RR was correlated with MCE-detected nontransmural MI.