[Value of low dose dobutamine real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography in the assessment of coronary artery disease].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the value of quantitative real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RT-MCE) combined with low dose dobutamine stress test in the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD), and to assess the contribution of collateral blood flow (CBF) to myocardial perfusion.


METHODS
Twenty-six hospitalized patients referred for coronary angiography and subsequent revascularization underwent routine echocardiography, RT-MCE at baseline and after low dose dobutamine administration. The images of RT-MCE were analyzed quantitatively from microbubble replenishment curves for myocardial perfusion and its reserve by using the QLab software.


RESULTS
At baseline, both beta and A x beta (but not A) were decreased with the increase of severity of coronary stenosis (P < 0.01). Under dobutamine stress, A, beta and A x beta values were decreased with the increase of severity of coronary stenosis (P < 0.01), Graded decreasing in the reserves of A, beta and A x beta were observed with increasing coronary stenosis severity (P < 0.01). Furthermore, significant differences in beta, A x beta, and WMS were observed between segments with CBF and those without.


CONCLUSIONS
Quantitative RT-MCE in conjunction with dobutamine stress can be used as a sensitive measure to identify and stratify CAD as well as to assess the contribution of collateral blood flow.
Guo
Shi-zun
SZ
Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai 200032, China.
Shu
Xian-hong
XH
Pan
Cui-zhen
CZ
Li
Yan-lin
YL
Ge
Jun-bo
JB
Chen
Hao-zhu
HZ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D003287:Contrast Media; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D025401:Echocardiography, Stress / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D003287:Contrast Media