Impact of Diabetes Mellitus on Left Ventricular Synchrony by Gated Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Phase Analysis

Phase analysis assesses left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony from gated single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (GSPECT-MPI). This study aimed to determine the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on phase parameters.

The study population consisted of 121 diabetic patients with no history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, or dyslipidemia and no evidence of perfusion abnormalities or systolic dysfunction in GSPECT-MPI. The resting-state images of MPI were further analyzed using the Cedar–Sinai quantitative GSPECT, and LV phase parameters, including phase histogram bandwidth (PHB), phase standard deviation (PSD), and entropy, were derived. The results were compared with the corresponding figures previously defined in a control group, consisting of 100 subjects with low likelihoods of coronary artery disease, in our center.

Significant differences existed in the derived values for PHB, PSD, and entropy between the DM and control groups concerning global whole LV synchrony (P>.05). Likewise, PHB and PSD demonstrated no significant differences between the 2 groups regarding the regional wall-based analysis (P>.05). In contrast, the entropy indices of the LV septum (P= .019) and anterior wall (P= .022) were significantly higher in the DM group.

It appears that except for the regional wall-based entropy of the septum and the anterior wall, DM does not inherently impose any significant alterations on the mechanical synchrony indices of GSPECT-MPI. Consequently, the provided normal databases for GSPECT-MPI-derived synchrony parameters could be utilized in DM patients.