Microcirculation Dysfunction: A Possible Mechanism Responsible for Reverse Redistribution in Myocardial Perfusion Imaging?

In the past more than one fourth century, the reverse redistribution (RR) phenomenon has been explored extensively and deeply, but its pathogenesis and clinical significances have remained unclear, which has perplexed nuclear specialists and cardiologists in the clinical practice. This paper reviewed the spectrum of the RR phenomenon in different entities and in different radiotracers. A close attention has been paid to the clinical significances, clinical approaching strategies and underlying mechanism of reverse redistribution in coronary artery diseases. We think that microcirculation's structure and function impairments may be responsible for reverse redistribution phenomenon.