[Exercise test after acute myocardial infarction: without therapy?].
In this article we analyze the role of ECG exercise test in the clinical evaluation and prognostic stratification of patients after acute myocardial infarction. Moreover, we analyze if test results may be influenced by drugs. In clinical practice, most of the cardiologists working in hospital perform pre-discharge tests while patients are on medical therapy; after the acute event, exercise test is performed after pharmacological wash-out. In the thrombolytic age exercise test has a well-defined role in the evaluation and prognostic stratification of postinfarction patients, but some aspects regarding the way of performance and the opportunity of a pharmacological wash-out need further investigation.
Gregorio
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Unità Operativa UTIC-Cardiologia, Dipartimento di Cardiologia, ASL SA 3, Ospedale San Luca, Vallo della Lucania, SA. cardiologiavallo@libero.it
D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors