The prognostic and diagnostic implications of surveillance serial myocardial perfusion imaging in asymptomatic renal transplant candidates.

BACKGROUND

The utility of serial SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) for CAD surveillance in asymptomatic ESRD patients awaiting kidney transplantation (KT) is uncertain.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We retrospectively investigated 700 asymptomatic KT candidates with ≥ 2 pre-transplant SPECT-MPIs (mean interval, 20 ± 13 months). Worsening MPI was defined as total perfusion deficit increase (ΔTPD) > 5%. High clinical risk was defined as ≥ 3 AHA/ACC KT risk factors. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACE) of cardiac death or myocardial infarction. The initial MPI was normal in 462 (66%) subjects. On repeat MPI, ΔTPD > 5% was observed in 82 (12%) subjects, and the incidence increased with increasing time gap between MPIs (P = .006). During a mean follow-up of 16 ± 8 months, there were 119 (17%) MACEs. In the entire cohort, ΔTPD > 5% was not significantly associated with MACE (HR = 1.38; P = .210). ΔTPD > 5% was associated with increased MACE rate among patients with normal initial MPI (HR = 2.30; P = .005), but not among those with abnormal initial MPI (P = .260). There was a significant interaction between ΔTPD > 5% and initial MPI normalcy status in predicting MACE (interaction P = .018), such that the predictive value of ΔTPD is dependent on the initial MPI normalcy. Among subjects with normal initial MPI, ΔTPD > 5% was significantly associated with MACE only if the sum of KT risk factors was ≥ 3 (HR = 2.26; P = .016). Among 123 patients who underwent coronary angiography, ΔTPD > 5% was associated with a higher prevalence of obstructive CAD when the initial MPI was normal and the sum of KT risk factors was ≥ 3.

CONCLUSION

Among patients with ESRD waitlisted for KT, new/worsening MPI abnormalities are expected. On serial surveillance, ΔTPD > 5% is associated with MACE and obstructive CAD among those with a normal initial MPI and ≥ 3 AHA/ACC KT risk factors.