Dipyridamole-echocardiography test: historical background and physiologic basis.
Dipyridamole was first introduced as an antianginal, coronary vasodilator agent. It was soon found that this drug could not prevent effort ischaemia; on the contrary, given intravenously, it could frequently induce ischaemia in the presence of coronary artery stenosis. This property was exploited for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. The dipyridamole-induced ischaemia was detected by different techniques: ST-segment depression, thallium 201 scintigraphy and echocardiography. This review article describes the mechanisms underlying dipyridamole-induced ischaemia and discusses the value of this pharmacologic stress test for the detection of coronary artery disease.
Picano
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C.N.R. Clinical Physiology Institute, University of Pisa, Italy.
D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004176:Dipyridamole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000139:chemically induced
D004176:Dipyridamole