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AHCPR Publishes Two New Technology Reports
Press Release Date: August 14, 1995
The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) today
announced the availability of
two new health technology reports—"Combined Liver-Kidney
Transplantation" (CLKT)
and "Myocardial Perfusion Imaging with Rubidium 82 Positron
Emission Tomography." Findings
from the combined liver-kidney transplantation report indicate
that CLKT performed as the initial
procedure for patients with both liver and kidney failure is
equally effective in terms of patient
survival as isolated liver transplantation in patients with liver
failure only, at least for the first year
after transplant. However, CLKT performed after prior liver
transplant appears to be associated
with a significant decrease in patient survival. AHCPR's Center
for Health Care Technology
evaluated the effectiveness of CLKT at the request of the
Civilian Health and Medical Program of
the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS).
The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) requested the
evaluation of myocardial
perfusion imaging with rubidium 82 positron emission tomography
(PET). Rubidium 82 PET,
single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and planar
scintigraphy are among the
techniques that have been used for the noninvasive evaluation of
the perfusion of the heart.
AHCPR's evaluation compared the sensitivity and specificity of
PET with that of thallium 201
SPECT. Findings from this evaluation concluded that both methods
appear to be useful for
evaluating myocardial perfusion (blood supply to the heart) and
for making further management
and therapeutic decisions regarding cardiac patients. However,
AHCPR's review also found that it
is not apparent whether images using rubidium 82 PET lead to
better results (i.e., sensitivity and
specificity) than those obtained from using thallium 201
SPECT.
Free copies of "Combined Liver-Kidney Transplantation," Health
Technology Review No. 9
(AHCPR Publication No. 95-0012) and "Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
with Rubidium 82
Positron Emission Tomography," Health Technology Review No. 10
(AHCPR Publication No.
95-0023) are available from the AHCPR Publications Clearinghouse,
P.O. Box 8547, Silver
Spring, MD 20907 (1-800-358-9295).
For additional information, contact AHCPR Public Affairs: Karen Migdail, (301) 427-1855.
5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857