Effects of dobutamine on Doppler echocardiographic indexes of aortic stenosis.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to assess the diagnostic implications of the flow dependence of Doppler echocardiographic indexes of aortic valve stenosis.


BACKGROUND
Although valve area has been shown to change with alterations in flow rate, the diagnostic consequences of this phenomenon remain unknown. Valve resistance has been suggested as a more stable index for evaluating aortic stenosis.


METHODS
A low dose dobutamine protocol was performed in 35 patients with aortic stenosis. Hemodynamic indexes were obtained by Doppler echocardiography at baseline and at each dobutamine dose.


RESULTS
As a result of the shortening of the systolic ejection period, flow increased from (mean +/- SD) 164 +/- 48 to 229 +/- 102 ml/s (p < 0.0001). At peak flow, valve area increased by 28% (from 0.5 +/- 0.2 to 0.6 +/- 0.3 cm2, p < 0.0001), whereas valve resistance decreased by 4% (from 498 +/- 252 to 459 +/- 222 dynes.s.cm-5, p = 0.04). This observed change in resistance was smaller than that for valve area (p < 0.01). The flow dependence of valve area varied among individual patients (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis identified calcific degenerative etiology (beta 0.29, p = 0.002), left ventricular velocity of fiber shortening (beta 0.22, p = 0.01), baseline flow (beta -0.28, p = 0.04) and amount of flow increased induced by dobutamine (beta 0.90, p < 0.0001) as factors related to valve area flow dependence.


CONCLUSIONS
Although all Doppler echocardiographic indexes of aortic stenosis are affected by flow, valve resistance is more stable than valve area under dobutamine-induced hemodynamic changes. Baseline valve area may be unreliable in patients with calcific degenerative aortic stenosis and low output states.
Bermejo
J
J
Department of Cardiology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
García-Fernández
M A
MA
Torrecilla
E G
EG
Bueno
H
H
Moreno
M M
MM
San Román
D
D
Delcán
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004280:Dobutamine; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects
D004280:Dobutamine