title: Arm exercise testing for coronary artery disease in patients with peripheral vascular disease.
abstract: We evaluated 74 peripheral vascular disease (PVD) patients (54 men, age 61 +/- 7 years and 17 women, age 63 +/- 7 years) for potential coronary heart disease (CAD) using an arm exercise test (AET) protocol. All patients performed upright two-arm cranking using discontinuous stages of 2 minutes of exercise separated by 2 minutes of rest. Exercise intensity was increased by +100 or 200 kpm (kilopond meters) with each stage. ECG was monitored continuously and blood pressure and 12-lead ECG tracings were obtained at the end of each exercise stage. All patients reached an endpoint of subjective exhaustion. Men achieved 91 +/- 14% of age-predicted heart rate at 597 +/- 167 kpm, while women achieved 86 +/- 14% of age-predicted heart rate at 335 +/- 117 kpm. Ischemic ECG responses (+AET) defined as new or additional ST depression greater than 1.0 mm X 80 ms, occurred in 35 men (65%) and 7 women (42%). Coronary angiography was performed in a subset of 22 patients (15 males and 7 females). CAD (greater than 70% stenosis) was found in 11 of 12 men and 4 of 5 women who showed positive or strongly positive AET responses (overall predictive value for AET = 88%). We conclude that arm exercise stress testing is safely performed in PVD patients who cannot complete treadmill exercise. In this limited series of PVD patients, the predictive value of a +AET response for diagnosis of CAD is similar to established values for treadmill exercise.
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists