Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is an already established method to investigate coronary artery disease (CAD). We performed a regional wall motion score based on the DSE test in a group of 36 consecutive patients (24 men and 7 women; mean age 57 years) 19 of whom were treated with thrombolytic agents a week after a first uncomplicated myocardial infarction and compared the results with a submaximal exercise test -regarding symptoms compatible with myocardial ischemia, test duration, peak heart rate, systolic blood pressure, ECG changes and arrhythmias. Seventeen of these patients underwent coronary angiography and the results were compared with the DSE score. In total, 576 myocardial segments were analyzed according to coronary artery distribution. Except for 2 patients, we found a good correlation between mean wall motion abnormalities and significant angiographic findings. No complications occurred during DSE. In conclusion: predischarge DSE after a first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a safe and useful method to investigate the severity of CAD. These preliminary results indicate that DSE is an important contribution to the evaluation of patients after AMI.

Keywords:
Dobutamine, Echocardiography
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© 1994 S. Karger AG, Basel
1994
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