title: The diagnostic value of immediate post-exercise left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
abstract: The diagnostic value of immediate post-exercise left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was assessed in 161 patients at rest, during maximal exercise, and immediately post-exercise by radionuclide angiography. Fifteen patients had a second examination, giving a total of 176 radionuclide examinations. Additionally, the correlation between post-exercise LVEF and physical validity was investigated. Sixty-one patients (35%) with a recent myocardial infarction (less than 4 weeks), 66 patients (37%) with an old myocardial infarction (greater than 4 weeks), and 21 patients (12%) with valvular lesions were studied. Twenty-eight patients (16%) with an abdominal aneurysm were considered as controls based on history and a normal resting and exercise electrocardiogram (ECG). LVEF and a cumulative regional wall motion (RWM) score for three regions were obtained. LVEF post-exercise was significantly increased compared to LVEF at maximal exercise in all four diagnostic groups. Absolute LVEF values were significantly dependent on the level of exercise. We conclude that immediate post-exercise LVEF should not be used for separating patients with and without coronary artery disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: van Kroonenburgh
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: van der Wall
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valkema
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Zwinderman
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Blokland
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Pauwels
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000503:physiopathology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D015637:Gated Blood-Pool Imaging; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology; D012146:Rest; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013997:Time Factors