A combined clinical/computer model for the study of myocardial thallium-201 washout/reinjection kinetics

A compartmental model was used to study a number of empirical observations on myocardial thallium-201 kinetics in ischemic disease. Measurements of plasma Tl-201 and myocardial kinetics in 30 subjects and simulation studies showed that low plasma Tl-201 levels caused increased and accelerated redistribution in viable myocardium, contrary to wide-spread notions. Reinjection at rest causes a worsening of Tl-201 defects in regions with critically stenosed arteries. Reinjection produces an improvement in relative uptake in regions with impaired myocardial retention and none or mild stenoses. This benefit was more notable when plasma Tl-201 level was low. This benefit was transient and disappeared when steady state conditions were reached. This work helps in the understanding of the use of a valuable clinical tool.<
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