Regional 11C-hydroxyephedrine retention in hibernating myocardium: chronic inhomogeneity of sympathetic innervation in the absence of infarction.

Abstract

Hibernating myocardium is associated with persistent reductions in regional uptake of norepinephrine by sympathetic nerves. The inhomogeneity in sympathetic innervation in viable dysfunctional myocardium is similar to that occurring after myocardial infarction and may contribute to arrhythmic death in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.