Mechanical Dyssynchrony and Microvascular Dysfunction by SPECT

Each patient will have a peripheral catheter placed, blood will be drawn, followed by dynamic SPECT on a two-day rest/stress protocol, and then standard gated myocardial perfusion scintigraphy will be performed (the resting study will be followed by a study with dobutamine administration at doses of 5 and 10 µg/kg/min). The protocols will be described in detail in the Interventions section. Based on the results of dynamic SPECT, patients will be divided into 2 groups depending on the state of myocardial blood flow reserve. All nuclear examinations will be performed using a hybrid specialized SPECT/CT Discovery NM/CT570C.

1. Determination of myocardial blood flow and reserve. Myocardial blood flow and reserve will be assessed using specialized software (GE Alcyone: Dynamic Analysis Tool), two series of images will be formed from the array of primary data: 1) reflecting the passage of the radiopharmaceutical bolus through the LV cavity and myocardium from 1 to 120 seconds of the study; 2) a group of 8 dynamic tomoscintigrams (frame duration 30 s) a series of static tomoscintigrams showing the accumulation of the radiopharmaceutical in the LV walls. The next stage of data processing (bi means of of specialized software (4DM CFR) will include the analysis of static and dynamic images, with the establish of "activity-time" graphs based on areas of interest corresponding to the cavity, walls (anterior, posterior, lateral , septum and apex) and 17 segments of the polar map of the left ventricle. On the basis of the obtained graphs, indices of myocardial blood flow at rest and stress will be determined (in ml per 1 gram of tissue per minute) on the basis of which the indices of the reserve of myocardial blood flow will be determined, reflecting the MBF stress/rest ratio. These indices will be estimated for all walls, vascular regions and segments of the polar map of the left ventricle.
2. Evaluation of myocardial perfusion. To evaluate the results of myocardial perfusion, a specialized software package Corridor 4DM (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA) will be used with the construction of sections along the short and long axes of the heart, as well as a 17-segment polar map of the left ventricle normalized to 100%. Semi-quantitative calculation of local disorders of LV perfusion will be performed in points as follows: 0 - accumulation of radiopharmaceuticals in the myocardial segment ≥70% of the maximum; 1 - a mild decrease in accumulation (50-69%), 2 - a moderately reduced accumulation (30-49%), 3 - a pronounced decrease in accumulation (10-29%) and 4 - a severe decrease of radiopharmaceuticals accumulation (<10%). The calculation of the total violation of LV perfusion will be made as follows: a decrease <4 points will be regarded as the norm; 4-8 - as easy; 9-13 - as moderate; >13 - as a severe deterioration of myocardial perfusion. Thus, the total perfusion impairment on exercise (SSS - Summed Stress Score), at rest (SRS - Summed Rest Score), as well as SDS - Summed Difference Score - will be calculated. In addition, the indicator called transient ischemic dilatation (TID) will be determined in a specialized Quantitative Perfusion SPECT software package (QPS software, version 2013, Cedars-Sinai).
3. Evaluation of inotropic function and mechanical dyssynchrony To assess contractile dysfunction, we will analyze the results of gMPI obtained during dynamic acquisition with ATP (early post-exercise images), after 60 minutes after the introduction of radiopharmaceuticals, obtained with dobutamine gMPI, as well as during the study at rest. The assessment of stress-induced changes will be estimated as the difference between the score during the stress test and at rest (Δ = [value at stress] - [value at rest]). To get early post-exercise images from the array of primary data obtained during dynamic SPECT, list data from 4 to 8 will be reconstructed. The resulting images will be processed in Corridor 4DM SPECT (INVIA, Ann Arbor, MI, USA), Emory Cardiac Toolbox (Emory University/ Syntermed, Atlanta, GA), and QGS/QPS (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, CA, USA). After construction the activity-time curve, the following parameters of the LV contractile function will be automatically estimated: End-systolic volume (ESV, ml); End-diastolic volume (EDV, ml); Ejection fraction (EF, %); Peak ejection rate (PER, EDV/s); Peak filling rate (PFR, EDV/s). After the construction of the phase histogram according to the algorithm "time to the maximum contraction", the following MD indices will be estimated automatically: Phase standard deviation (PSD) - standard deviation of the phase histogram; Histogram bandwidth (HBW) - phase diagram width;
4. CT coronary angiography CT coronary angiography, based on which patients will be included in the study, will be performed at the stage according to indications. The study will be conducted to assess the condition of the coronary bed on a 64-slice GE Discovery NM/CT 570C (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI, USA). Unenhanced heart scans with prospective ECG synchronization and subsequent reconstruction in the 75% phase of the R-R interval will be performed to determine the coronary calcium index. The study will be conducted from the level of the tracheal bifurcation to the diaphragm. Scanning parameters will include a tube voltage of 120 kV, current of 435 mA, tube rotation time of 0.4 s, slice thickness of 2.5 mm, and an interslice interval of 2.5 mm. The coronary artery calcification index will be calculated using a dedicated Advanced Workstation (GE Healthcare) with SmartScore 4.0 software. The coronary calcium index will be determined according to the Agatston method for the trunk of the left coronary artery, the left anterior descending artery, the circumflex artery, the right coronary artery, the posterior interventricular branch, and also in total. Before starting CT coronary angiography, each patient's heart rate and blood pressure will be measured. Patients whose heart rate exceeds 65 beats per minute at the start of the study will receive an intravenous injection of 1 mg metoprolol (Betaloc, AstraZeneca). CT coronary angiography will be performed from the level of the tracheal bifurcation to the diaphragm during breath-holding (6-8 s) in prospective (for HR≤55) or retrospective (for HR>55) ECG-synchronized mode. To contrast coronary arteries, an intravenous infusion of 85-90 ml (at a rate of 5 ml/s) of an iodine-containing (370 mg iodine/ml) radiopaque substance will be used. The scan will start when a density of 200 HU is reached in the ascending aorta. CT angiography recording will be performed with the following parameters: current strength of 120 kV, voltage of 300-600 mA with ECG modulation, tube rotation speed of 0.4 s, and pitch: 0.18-0.22 (depending on heart rate). During the study, the radiation exposure will range from 1.5-3 mSv (with prospective ECG synchronization) to 15-20 mSv (with retrospective ECG synchronization). Image reconstruction will occur at the 75% phase of the cardiac cycle with a slice thickness of 0.625 mm and an interslice interval of 0.625 mm. In the presence of rhythm artifacts, images acquired with retrospective synchronization will be additionally reconstructed in the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle (70% and 80% of the RR interval duration) and in the early diastole phase (40%, 45%, and 50% of the RR interval duration). Images with the best visualization quality of the coronary arteries will be used for further analysis. All data will be analyzed using multiplanar and curvilinear reconstructions. After the CT reconstruction, the images will be transferred and processed on a specialized workstation (AdvantageWorkstation 4.3; GE Healthcare). Segments of the coronary bed will be analyzed for the presence of atherosclerotic plaques. The quality of MSCT coronary angiograms will be assessed on a 4-point scale: 1 - excellent quality (no motion and rhythm artifacts, no significant artifacts from calcified plaques, clear identification of artery contours); 2 - good quality (minimum artifacts, minimal blurring of vessel contours); 3 - adequate quality (moderate artifacts, moderate blurring of vessels without interrupting their contours); 4 - poor quality (non-interpretable image, doubling or discontinuity of the vessel contour, lack of clear visualization of a part of the vessel). Only images with quality 1-3 will be used in the analysis. According to the American Heart Association criteria, the coronary tree will be divided into 16 segments. The degree of coronary artery stenosis will be calculated in each segment as the percentage ratio of the minimum arterial diameter at the level of the constriction to the diameter of the normal artery immediately proximal to the plaque. Stenoses ≥50% of the arterial lumen will be considered significant.
5. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) analysis will be performed on unenhanced images using a dedicated Advantage Workstation 4.3 (GE Healthcare). The EAT volume will be calculated in cubic millimeters automatically after manual marking of the pericardial contour in the density range from -30 to -190 HU. Also, the maximum thickness of the EJC will be measured manually on axial sections at two points: above the apex of the heart and in the right atrioventricular sulcus.