Comparison of radionuclide angiography with three echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular function in patients after myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
Left ventricular function is an important outcome measure in patients with coronary artery disease, in particular in patients after myocardial infarction. It is reliably assessed by radionuclide angiography, but echocardiographic wall motion scoring might be an attractive alternative.


METHODS
Four days after reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction both radionuclide angiography and echocardiography were performed in 90 patients. Segmental wall motion scoring (WMSI) and visual estimation of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was done by 2 independent observers. Repeated analysis was performed 1 month after the first reading. In 41 patients the LVEF was assessed quantitatively by tracing of endocardial outlines of the left ventricle.


RESULTS
Both correlation with radionuclide angiography (estimated LVEF: r = 0.71, WMSI: r = -0.68, Tracing: r = 0.59) and inter- and intra-observer variability (estimated LVEF: 19% and 15%, WMSI: 65% and 59%) were in favour of the LVEF estimation method. Correlation with radionuclide angiography measurements was related to the quality of the echocardiogram and to the extent of coronary artery disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Simple echocardiographic estimation of left ventricular ejection fraction in patients after reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction proved to be superior to quantitative assessment of ejection fraction and to segmental wall motion scoring in comparison with radionuclide angiography.
van 't Hof
A W
AW
Department of Cardiology and Nuclear Medicine, Ziekenhuis de Weezenlanden Zwolle, The Netherlands.
Schipper
C W
CW
Gerritsen
J G
JG
Reiffers
S
S
Hoorntje
J C
JC
D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion; D011875:Radionuclide Angiography; D013318:Stroke Volume; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left