Comparison between iodine 123 metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy and heart rate variability for the assessment of cardiac sympathetic activity in mild to moderate heart failure

Byline: G.Aernout Somsen, Balazs M. Szabo, Dirk J. van Veldhuisen, Paul A.R. de Milliano, C.Andre de Groot, K.I. Lie Abstract: This study demonstrates that in patients with mild to moderate heart failure, cardiac metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) washout positively correlates with normalized low-frequency power in the heart rate variability spectrum. Alterations of the cardiac sympathetic nervous system could be detected with MIBG scintigraphy in patients with normal plasma norepinephrine levels. Therefore cardiac MIBG washout may be a valuable noninvasive technique to assess early alterations in cardiac sympathetic activity that may have potential clinical implications in patients with mild to moderate heart failure. (Am Heart J 1997;134:456-8.) Author Affiliation: Amsterdam and Groningen, The Netherlands From the Departments of Cardiology, Academic Medical Centre; University Hospital Groningen; Ziekenhuis Hilversum Article History: Received 13 August 1996; Accepted 24 April 1997 Article Note: (footnote) [star] Reprint requests: G. Aernout Somsen, MD, PhD, Academic Medical Centre, Department of Cardiology, room B2-214, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands., [star][star] 0002-8703/97/$5.00 + 0 4/1/83040