Table 1 Baseline clinical and study characteristics of patients in abnormal and normal metaiodobenzyleguanidine washout rate groups.
| Abnormal WR group | Normal WR group | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | 48 | 49 | |
| Age (years) | 65 (11) | 62 (12) | NS |
| Gender (male) | 79% | 80% | NS |
| NYHA | 2.1 (0.7) | 2.1 (0.6) | NS |
| Ischaemic heart disease | 50% | 55% | NS |
| Systolic pressure (mm Hg) | 127 (15) | 127 (18) | NS |
| Diastolic pressure (mm Hg) | 72 (10) | 73 (9) | NS |
| Heart rate (bpm) | 74 (10) | 75 (13) | NS |
| Radionuclide LVEF (%) | 28 (8) | 30 (7) | NS |
| Lown's grade | 3.9 (1.0) | 3.1 (1.6) | 0.006 |
| Non‐sustained VT | 19% | 16% | NS |
| LVEDD (mm) | 65 (9) | 61 (7) | 0.01 |
| LAD (mm) | 45 (9) | 41 (6) | 0.03 |
| Norepinephrine (pg/ml) | 534 (279) | 366 (167) | <0.001 |
| Medications | |||
| ACE inhibitors | 83% | 77% | NS |
| Digitalis | 94% | 82% | NS |
| β blocker* | 60% | 63% | NS |
| Aldosterone antagonist | 73% | 54% | NS |
| Arryhthmia drug (class Ib/III)† | 29% (11/6) | 18% (9/0) | NS |
LAD, left atrial dimension; LVEDD, left ventricular end‐diastolic dimension; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; NS, not significant; NYHA, New York Heart Association; VT, ventricular tachycardia; WR, washout rate.
Data are presented as the mean (SD) or as percentage of patients.
*The use of β blocker (carvedilol) as recorded at the last follow‐up visit.
†Class Ib anti‐arrhythmia drug, mexiletine; class III, amiodarone.