RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The exercise treadmill test can be used in ventricular dysfunction patients for functional capacity or predicting prognosis. The cardiac image with 123I MIBG shows cardiac sympathetic activation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between exercise treadmill test variables and cardiac image changes in 123I MIBG. METHODS: 23 patients with LVEF ≤ 45% performed scintigraphy cardiac with 123I MIBG and divided into two groups. G1: Washout rate < 27%; G2: ≥ 27%. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR) and functional capacity were evaluated. It was performed Student t test or Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman coefficient and linear regression. RESULTS: SBP at exercise peak (G1: 181.00 ± 28.01; G2: 153.27 ± 27.71 mmHg, p = 0.027), SBP variation [G1: 64(47.5-80.5); G2: 36(25-47) mmHg, p = 0.015], the HR at exercise peak (G1: 136.91 ± 19.66; G2: 118.45 ± 13.98 bpm, p = 0.018) and chronotropic response (G1: 70.42 ± 17.94; G2: 49.47 ± 14.89%, p = 0.006), and functional capacity [G1: 8.37(6.47-10.27); G2: 4.42(2.46-6.38) METs, p = 0.003] were smaller in G2 group. There was negative correlation between Washout rate and SBP at exercise peak (r = -0.505, p = 0.014), variation in SBP (r = -0.493, p = 0.017) and functional capacity (r = -0.646, p = 0.001). Nevertheless, SBP at exercise peak (r = -0.422, p = 0.016) and functional capacity (r = -0.804, p = 0.004) were the only variables associated with Washout rate, after linear regression. CONCLUSION: In heart failure patients, the SBP at exercise peak and functional capacity were the variables associated with Washout rate.