Reversible cold-induced abnormalities in myocardial perfusion and function in systemic sclerosis

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Ann. Intern. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-105-5-661· OSTI ID:6935525

Alexander, E L; Firestein, G S; Weiss, J L; Heuser, R R; Leitl, G; Wagner, Jr, H N; Brinker, J A; Ciuffo, A A; Becker, L C

The effects of peripheral cold exposure on myocardial perfusion and function were studied in 13 patients with scleroderma without clinically evident myocardial disease. Ten patients had at least one transient, cold-induced, myocardial perfusion defect visualized by thallium-201 scintigraphy, and 12 had reversible, cold-induced, segmental left ventricular hypokinesis by two-dimensional echocardiography. The 10 patients with transient perfusion defects all had anatomically corresponding ventricular wall motion abnormalities. No one in either of two control groups (9 normal volunteers and 7 patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteriograms) had cold-induced abnormalities. This study is the first to show the simultaneous occurrence of cold-induced abnormalities in myocardial perfusion and function in patients with scleroderma. The results suggest that cold exposure in such patients may elicit transient reflex coronary vasoconstriction resulting in reversible myocardial ischemia and dysfunction. Chronic recurrent episodes of coronary spasm may lead to focal myocardial fibrosis.

• Research Organization: Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD
• OSTI ID: 6935525
• Journal Information: Ann. Intern. Med.; (United States), Vol. 5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
MYOCARDIUM
SCINTISCANNING
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
BLOOD PRESSURE
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
DIAGNOSIS
HEART
PATIENTS
PERFUSED ORGANS
THALLIUM 201
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MUSCLES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
SECONDS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
THALLIUM ISOTOPES
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