CO2 as a Stress Agent for Perfusion Imaging

Summary

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is a nuclear scan using a radioisotope to see blood flow to the muscles of the heart when the heart is at rest and when it is under stress. The stress test in MPI can be done using medications, such as persantine, that dilate coronary arteries and increase blood flow. Similarly, elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the blood, or hypercapnia, also dilates arteries and increases blood flow. Thornhill Research Inc. has developed the RA-MR™ sequential gas delivery system used to control CO2 levels in the blood. The RA-MR™ can deliver precise amounts of CO2 through a mouthpiece for inhalation to increase CO2 levels in the blood and thereby increasing blood flow like during stress.

The objective of this study is to compare the differences in blood flow through the arteries of the heart during stress with hypercapnia and adenosine MPI. The imaging will be done using positron emission tomography (PET) with the radioisotope, or tracer, called Rubidium (Rb-82). The Rb-82 is given through a pump, or elution system.

The investigators hypothesize that hypercapnia will induce a stress-to-rest increase in myocardial blood flow by a factor of 2 or more in myocardial regions supplied by non-stenotic arteries in normal volunteers and participants with coronary artery disease.

Conditions

• Coronary Artery Disease

Interventions

DEVICE

Delivery of precise levels of carbon dioxide with the RA-MR™ Virtual Sequential Gas Delivery System.

All participants will undergo a baseline rest Rb-82 positron emission tomography (PET) myocardial perfusion imaging scan (MPI) with low-dose computed tomography. Following this baseline study, serial Rb-82 PET MPI using a target level of carbon dioxide (CO2) (approximately 60 mmHg (± 3 mmHg)) as a stress agent will be performed. The 60 mmHg level will be repeated following a minimum 10 minute rest. A rest/stress Rb-82 PET MPI will be performed after return to normal CO2 levels (normocapnea) using persantine as the stress agent. Myocardial perfusion stress testing

DEVICE

Delivery of rubidium radioisotope (Rb-82) using the automated pump/elution system

All participants will undergo a baseline rest Rb-82 positron emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging scan (PET MPI) with low-dose CT. Following this baseline study, serial Rb-82 PET MPI using three target levels of pulmonary end-tidal carbon dioxide tension (PetCO2) (approximately 60 mmHg (± 3 mmHg)) as a stress agent will be performed. The 60 mmHg level will be repeated following a minimum 10 minute rest. A second rest Rb-82 PET MPI will be performed after return to normocapnea, followed by a pharmacologic persantine stress Rb-82 PET MPI.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Terrence D Ruddy, MD · Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2014-03-12

Primary Completion

2020-10-15

Completion

2020-10-15

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations