Myocardial scintigraphy after pacemaker implantation for congenital complete atrioventricular block

Patients with isolated congenital complete atrioventricular block (CCAVB) occasionally develop dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), despite early pacemaker implantation. However, the etiology of the DCM and its relationship to permanent ventricular pacing are not fully understood. Twenty-five patients with CCAVB underwent 99m technetium (Tc) myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. Five patients were studied before and after pacing, providing a total of 30 image sets, which were divided into three groups; group 1: CCAVB before pacemaker implantation (PMI) (n = 11); group 2: CCAVB after PMI who did not subsequently develop DCM (n = 13); group 3: CCAVB after PMI who subsequently developed DCM (n = 6). Perfusion defects on single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) were identified in group 1, 0 of 11 patients; group 2, 85% of patients; and group 3, 100% of patients. In groups 2 and 3, in patients with right ventricular pacing, the perfusion defects were mainly in the septum or between the apex and septum. On 20 segments’ polar maps, the distribution of %uptake showed a similar pattern in groups 2 and 3, the degree of decreased %uptake and the number of segments with decreased %uptake being more severe in group 3. “Artificial” left bundle branch block (LBBB) pattern myocardial contraction induced by right ventricular pacing decreased myocardial perfusion around the apex and septum. Some patients with CCAVB will develop left ventricular dysfunction caused by artificial LBBB-induced interventricular asynchrony.