Cardiovascular MRI vs SPECT in Predicting Major Cardiac Events

Cardiovascular MR imaging (CMR) predicts risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) more accurately than single photon emission CT (SPECT), according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from the United Kingdom sought to establish the ability of CMR and SPECT to predict MACEs among patients with suspected coronary heart disease (CHD). A total of 752 patients with at least one major cardiovascular risk factor initially enrolled in the study. The researchers evaluated prediction of time to MACE, defined as the composite end point

of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction/acute coronary syndrome, unscheduled coronary revascularization, or hospital admission for any cardiovascular cause (stroke/transient ischemic attack, heart failure, arrhythmia).[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_crop","fid":"48903","attributes":{"alt":"cardiac imaging","class":"media-image media-image-right","id":"media_crop_4761060959351","media_crop_h":"0","media_crop_image_style":"-1","media_crop_instance":"5871","media_crop_rotate":"0","media_crop_scale_h":"0","media_crop_scale_w":"0","media_crop_w":"0","media_crop_x":"0","media_crop_y":"0","style":"height: 114px; width: 171px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 1px; float: right;","title":"©hywards/Shutterstock.com","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]

Of the original group, 628 patients were analyzed. Of these patients, 101 (16.6%) experienced 171 MACEs. , and abnormal findings on the CMR and SPECT, were both strong and independent predictors of the event. However, after adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors, angiography result, or stratification for initial patient treatment, only CMR remained a significant predictor of the events.

The researchers concluded that their “findings further support the role of CMR as an alternative to SPECT for the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected CHD.”