[Stress ultrasonography under low doses of dobutamine, contractile reserve and dilated cardiomyopathy].
The demonstration of a myocardial contractile reserve with low dose dobutamine is an emerging imaging technique in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. This contractile reserve is correlated with a better prognosis and enables identification of subgroups of patients who could increase their left ventricular ejection fractions under carvedilol. A review of the published literature shows that the method does not expose patients to major risk, providing patients are selected and carefully monitored during the procedure. Complementary studies of larger numbers of patients are required to confirm its value as a prognostic and therapeutic marker in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.
Jourdain
P
P
Service de cardiologie, centre hospitalier René Dubos, 95300 Pontoise. patrickjourdain@hotmail.com
Funck
F
F
Hagege
A
A
Bellorini
M
M
Loiret
J
J
Guillard
N
N
Thébault
B
B
Desnos
M
M
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004280:Dobutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D025401:Echocardiography, Stress; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D004280:Dobutamine