Evaluating Cerebral Perfusion in Alzheimer Patients and First-Degree Relatives: Lessons from Artemisa Province, Cuba.

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer disease is related to several risk factors including aging, family history, high blood pressure and diabetes. Studies have shown specific regional cerebral perfusion changes in patients with Alzheimer disease. Some authors state that these changes could appear years before patient memory becomes impaired, enabling early diagnosis in high-risk persons who appear to be healthy. OBJECTIVE: Determine the usefulness of cerebral perfusion studies in Alzheimer patients and first-degree relatives for obtaining additional diagnostic information and detecting functional changes that may suggest elevated disease risk. METHODS: This study involved 128 persons (87 clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer disease and 41 of their first-degree relatives with normal cognition), all from Artemisa Province, Cuba. We performed clinical, laboratory, neuropsychological and genetic (apolipoprotein E-ApoE, e4 allele) tests, as well as cerebral perfusion studies using single photon emission computed tomography after administering 740-925 MBq of 99m Tc-ECD, following internationally standardized protocols. RESULTS: In the Alzheimer disease group, the cerebral single photon emission computed tomography showed a typical Alzheimer pattern (bilateral posterior temporal-parietal hypoperfusion) in 77% (67/87) of participants; 35.9% (28/67) in stage 1; 51.3% (40/67) in stage 2; and 12.8% (10/67) in stage 3 of the disease. In this group, 12.7% (11/87) had mild or unilateral cerebral perfusion changes; 5.7% (5/87) vascular dementia; 3.4% (3/87) frontal dementia; and 1.2% (1/87) normal cerebral perfusion. Of the patients, 28.7% (25/87) received a different classification of stage and disease diagnosis after cerebral perfusion results were considered. In the relative group, 14.6% (6/41) had cerebral perfusion abnormalities. Among these, 7.1% (3/41) were mild bilateral temporal-parietal hypoperfusion; 4.8% (2/41) mild unilateral temporal-parietal hypoperfusion; and 2.4% (1/41) had perfusion defecits in their right frontal lobes. Of patients with typical Alzheimer disease patterns in the cerebral single photon emission computed tomography, 76.6% (52/67) had positive ApoE e4. All relatives with perfusion abnormalities (6/6) had positive ApoE e4. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral perfusion studies confirmed the Alzheimer disease diagnosis, classified disease stages, and differentiated between the types of dementia. The test showed perfusion changes in several asymptomatic first-degree relatives with positive ApoE e4, which could be predictors of disease. The technique was useful for evaluating patients and their relatives.

Asociación de los resultados positivos del SPECT de Perfusión Miocárdica con 99mTc-MIBI, con la presencia de Dislipidemia en pacientes ≥40 años de edad / Association of the positive results of the myocardial perfusion SPECT with 99mTc-MIBI, with the presence of Dyslipidemia in patient with 40 years or more age

El trabajo tuvo como objetivo conocer la asociación de la dislipidemia con los resultados positivos del SPECT de perfusión miocárdica para la optimización del uso. Se analizaron 152 SPECTPM, días diferentes; la media de edad de 58,32 años; 86 (56,6%) fueron masculinos. Se dividieron en dos grupos según la presencia de dislipidemia; dislipidémicos, n=37 (24,3%) y no dislipidémicos, n=115 (75,7%). No presentaron diferencias significativas en las medias de edad (59,59/57,90 p=0,284) e índice de masa corporal (24,85/25,03, p=0,739), ni de la frecuencia de maduro/ra; por tanto el riesgo adicional solo lo aporta la dislipidemia. Los resultados 102 (67,10%) SPECT fueron positivos; en la comparación íntergrupos no se observó diferencia significativa de resultados positivos (67,60/67,00, p=0,945), que se mantuvo cuando se subdividieron los grupos en sintomáticos y asintomáticos. Se concluyó que la dislipidemia no aporta riesgo significativo de cardiopatía isquémica en pacientes en edad de riesgo, por tanto no hay asociación significativa con resultados positivos del SPECTPM en pacientes en edad de riesgo.

The paper is aimed at establishing the association of the dyslipidemia with the positive results of the myocardial perfusion SPECT, for the optimization of the use. 152 MPSPECT were analyzed, different day, for an average age: 58.32 years, 86 (56.6%), were males. Considerating the presence of dyslipidemia , the patients were divided into two groups: dyslipidemia n=37(24.3%) and not-dyslipidemia, n=115 (75.7%). No significant differences were present in the age average (59.59/57.90 p=0.284), in body mass index (24.85/25.03, p=0.739), nor in the frequency of mature. Therefore , only dyslipidemia contributes to therefore the additional risk. Result: 102 (67.1%) MPSPECT were positive. In the comparison among groups no significant difference in the incidence of positive results was observed (67.60/67.00, p=0.945) and the same situation remained when the groups were subdivided into symptomatic and asymptomatic: As a result of the study, it was concluded that dyslipidemia does not represent a significant risk of ischemic cardiopathy in patient within the ages of risk, therefore there is no significant association with the positive results of the SPECTPM, within patient in ages of risk.

Asociación de los resultados positivos del SPECT de perfusión miocárdica con 99mTc-MIBI, con la presencia de hipertensión arterial en pacientes de 40 o más años de edad / Association of arterial hypertension with positive results on myocardial perfusion SPECT in patients over 40 years

Objetivo: Conocer la asociación de la hipertensión arterial (HTA) con los resultados positivos del SPECT de perfusión miocárdica (SPECTPM), para la optimización del uso del mismo. Material y Método: Se analizaron 227 SPECTPM, usando un protocolo de días diferentes, media de edad de 57,92 años, 119 (52,4 por ciento) fueron masculinos. La muestra se dividió en H (hipertensos) n=155 y NH (no-hipertensos) n=72. Los grupos no presentaron diferencias significativas en las medias de edad (57,34 vs. 59,17, p=0,094), aunque sí en el índice de masa corporal (H=28,98 vs. NH=26,63, p<0,001), pero no relevante (diferencia de medias=2,35), pues ambos grupos globalmente presentaron índices de sobrepeso, por lo que el riesgo adicional sólo lo aportaba la HTA. Resultados: Fueron positivos 183 (80,6 por ciento) SPECTPM; en la comparación íntergrupos no se observó diferencia significativa en la incidencia de resultados positivos (81,90 por ciento vs. 77,80 por ciento, p=0,461), que se mantuvo cuando se subdividieron los grupos en sintomáticos y asintomáticos. Conclusiones: Según estos resultados, no existe asociación alguna entre el resultado positivo del SPECTPM y la HTA, por tanto los pacientes sintomáticos con esta tríada de factores de riesgo ateroscleróticos (HTA, sobrepeso y edad >40 años), deberían ser explorados con SPECTPM y los asintomáticos con ergometría diagnóstica, en tanto los pacientes no hipertensos, independientemente de la sintomatología, podrían ser explorados solamente con ergometría diagnóstica.

To know the association of arterial hypertension (AH) with positive results on myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPSPECT), in order to optimize the use of this technique. Material and Method: We analyzed 227 MPSPECT studies, two-day protocol, average age of patients = 57.92 years, 119 (52.4 percent) males. According to the presence of AH the population was divided in H (hypertensives) n=155 and NH (non-hypertensives) n=72. Both groups did not differ in age average (57.34 vs.59.17, p=0.094), but they did in body mass index (H=28.98 vs. NH=26.63, p<0.001), however not outstandingly (difference of means = 2.35), being both groups classified as overweighted. Therefore, the only additional risk was the presence of AH. Results: One-hundred and eighty three (80.6 percent) SPECTMP studies were positive. In the intergroup comparison no significant difference was observed in the incidence of positive results (81.90 percent vs. 77.80 percent, p=0.461), which persisted when the groups were subdivided into symptomatic and asymptomatic. Conclusion: No association between AH and the result of MPSPECT was observed, therefore symptomatic patients with this triad of atherosclerotic risk factors (AH, overweight and age >40 years), should be explored with MPSPECT while asymptomatic patients should undergo exercise testing. Non-hypertensive patients should be first evaluated with exercise teststing independently of the presence of symptomatology.

Asociación del hábito de fumar con los resultados positivos del SPECT de perfusión miocárdica con 99mTc-MIBI, en pacientes ≥ 40 años de edad / Correlation of the smoking habit with the positive results of myocardial perfusion SPECT with 99mTc-MIBI in patients over 40 years

Objetivo. Conocer la asociación del hábito de fumar (HF) con los resultados positivos del SPECT de perfusión miocárdica (SPECTPM), para la optimización del uso del mismo. Material y método Analizamos 99 SPECTPM, media de edad: 59,86 años, 70 (70,7 por ciento) fueron masculinos. Sólo se diferenciaron en el HF, acorde a lo cual se dividieron en F (fumadores, n=36) y NF (no-fumadores, n=63) los cuales no presentaron diferencias significativas en las medias de edad (58,31 vs. 60,75 p=0,147) ni en el índice de masa corporal (26,44 vs. 26,57 p=0.903), por tanto el riesgo adicional solo fue aportado por el HF. Resultados. Ochenta y cinco (85,90 por ciento) SPECTPM fueron positivos; en la comparación intergrupos existió mayor incidencia de resultados positivos en el grupo F (diferencia de incidencia de 13,4 por ciento), con odds ratio=4,000 y un Likelihood ratio=3,890, que se mantuvo cuando se subdividieron los grupos en sintomáticos y asintomáticos. Conclusiones. Los pacientes sintomáticos con esta triada de factores de riesgo aterosclerótico (HF, sobrepeso y edad) pueden ser explorados coronariográficamente y los asintomáticos con SPECTPM, en tanto los pacientes no-fumadores independientemente de la sintomatología podrían ser estudiados con ergometría diagnóstica.

Objective. To analyze the correlation of the smoking habit (HF) with the positive results of myocardial perfusion SPECT (SPECTPM), for the optimization of the use of this test. Material and method.We analyzed 99 SPECTPM, 70 (70.7 percent) were males, mean age of 59.86 years. They differed only by the presence of HF. With this criterion the population was divided in F (smokers, n=36) and NF (non-smokers, n=63). The groups did not present significant differences in the mean age (58.31 vs. 60.75, p=0.147) and body mass index (26.44 vs. 26.57, p=0.903), therefore the additional risk alone was contributed by HF. Results. Eighty-five (85.90 percent) SPECTPM were positive; in the comparison between groups, there was greater incidence of positive results among patients of group F (difference of incidence of 13.4 percent), with odds ratio=4.000 and a Likelihood ratio=3.890, which stayed equally abnormal when the groups were subdivided in symptomatics and asymptomatics. Conclusions The symptomatic patients with this triad of atherosclerotic risk factors (HF, overweight, age) should be possibly explored with coronariography and the asymptomatic with SPECTPM, while non-smokers could be studied with exercise test first independently of the symptomatology.

Correlación de los resultados del SPECT de perfusión miocárdica con 99mmTc-MIBI con la presencia de factores de riesgo aterosclerótico, en pacientes iguales o mayores a 40 años de edad: resultados preliminares / Correlation of myocardial perfusion SPECT with Tc-99m MIBI in presence of atherosclerotic risk factors

Objetivo: Conocer la combinación de Factores Mayores de Riesgo Aterosclerótico (FMRA) que nos sugeriría remitir directamente al paciente a coronariografía, para la optimización del uso del SPECT de Perfusión Miocárdica (SPECTPM). Material y Método: Se analizaron 577 SPECTPM, 345(59.8 por ciento) fueron masculinos, edad media: 62.26años y 79pacientes(13.7 por ciento) fueron asintomáticos. Resultados: 448(77.64 por ciento) SPECTPM fueron positivos y 129(22.36 por ciento) negativos, el FMRA más frecuente la HTA (68.80 por ciento) y el que más se asocio con SPECTPM positivo el habito de fumar, no existió riesgo significativo de SPECTPM positivo para ninguno de los FMRA estudiados, ni sus combinaciones. Conclusiones: La presente investigación sugiere que teniendo en cuenta la alta especificidad, valor predictivo negativo y valor pronostico del SPECTPM, deben realizarse coronariografía solo a los pacientes sintomáticos con resultado positivo de SPECTPM, por tanto todos los pacientes deben realizarse un SPECTPM previo a la realización de la angiografía, por tener alta probabilidad de tener resultados negativos.

Objective: Know the combination of FMRA that would suggest us to remit the patient directly to coronariography, for the optimization of the use of the SPECTPM. Material and Method: 577 SPECTPM were analyzed, 345(59.8 percent) they were masculine, mean age: 62.26 years and 79(13.7 percent) asymptomatic. Results: Positive SPECTPM 448(77.64 percent) and negative 129(22.36 percent), the most frequent FMRA was HTA(68.80 percent) and the one that was most associated with positive SPECTPM was the smoking habit. There wasn’t any significant risk of positive SPECTPM for none of the FMRA studied, not even in their combinations. Conclusions: Keeping in mind the high specificity, predictive negative value and prognostic value of the SPECTPM, this investigation paper recommends that only patients with a positive result of SPECTPM should undergo a coronariography. Therefore, all patients with angina pectoris should have a SPECTPM before undergoing an angiography, because there is a high probability of having negative results.