Myocardial Stunning Demonstrated by Adenosine Myocardial Perfusion Scintigraphy as a Predictor of Significant Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

Myocardial stunning may occur after a brief but profound episode of ischaemia that is insufficient to lead to myocyte necrosis but following which there is depression of myocyte function that persists for hours or days. It is thought to be caused by disordered intra-cellular calcium handling and, when seen after stress-induced myocardial ischemia, it indicates profound ischaemia and potentially an adverse prognosis.