The presence of defects on resting thallium (
201Tl) myocardial scintigraphy has been previously demonstrated in myocardial sarcoidosis. To examine cardiac sympathetic nerve activity in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis, we performed
201Tl and I-123 MIBG (meta-iodobenzylguanidine) myocardial scintigraphy in patients with sarcoidosis. Sixteen patients with sarcoidosis were classified into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of defects on
201Tl scintigraphy. Myocardial images by both
201Tl and I-123 MIBG were then divided into 20 segments and scored using a 6-point scoring system. Defect Score was defined as a the sum of significant scores in each image. The mean Defect Score in I-123 MIBG images was higher in the
201Tl defect group (44.3+13.3) than in both the normal
201Tl group (25.1+10.5) and the control group (22.7+11.4). Moreover, the locations of defects on I-123 MIBG scans were consistent with those on
201Tl scans. This study suggests that cardiac adrenergic function may be impaired in cardiac sarcoidosis, and I-123 MIBG scintigraphy may be more sensitive in detecting cardiac sarcoidosis than 201T1 scintigraphy, although the clinical significance of these findings requires further study. (
Jpn Circ J 1996;
60: 774 - 778)
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