The Use of Gated Cardiac Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) in Healthy Smokers

Introduction: As cigarette smoking is a major cardiovascular risk factor, this study was designed to find the effect of chronic cigarette smoking on cardiovascular system of apparently healthy subjects by using gated SPECT. Subjects and Methods: This study included 20 healthy young males heavy smokers with smoking index 379± 193.4. Also 10 age and sex matched non smokers volunteers served as controls. Smokers and non smokers persons were subjected to complete history taking, thorough clinical examination, X-ray chest, resting ECG and resting echocardiography to exclude any abnormalities. In addition the following laboratory investigations were done; blood urea, serum creatinine, serum glucose, lipogram and C-reactive protein. Also, stress gated cardiac SPECT using Tc99m MIBI was performed for all subjects. Results: Mean values of serum cholesterol and LDL-c were significantly higher in smokers than non smokers (p 0.001, 0.05 respectively). Mean values of HDL-c were significantly lower in smokers than controls (p 0.05). The percentages of positive CRP were significantly higher in smokers versus non smokers (p 0.05). The mean values of EF% and SV were insignificantly lower in smokers versus controls at post-stress SPECT. Also, 50% of smokers had diminished myocardial perfusion versus 0% of non smokers (p 0.01) at post stress SPECT. There were also abnormal wall motion and thickness at post stress SPECT. In Conclusion: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis in young adult male. Post stress cardiac SPECT may be useful for early detection of cardiovascular events of smoking.