Gated radionuclide angiocardiography in the noninvasive evaluation of a partially reversible alcoholic cardiomyopathy.

Serial gated radionuclide angiocardiography was used to demonstrate partial reversal of alcoholic cardiomyopathy, following abstention from alcohol. Six months subsequent to total abstention, the resting ejection fraction, which is a sensitive index of left ventricular function, increased from 19 percent to 42 percent. Thirteen months following total abstention, the resting ejection fraction was preserved at 40 percent. During stress, the ejection fraction increased to 53 percent. The clinical implication of this case report is that gated radionuclide angiocardiography may be used to noninvasively evaluate accurately the subsequent course of reversible alcoholic cardiomyopathy.