title: Predictive value of normal dobutamine stress echocardiogram in patients with low-risk acute chest pain.
abstract: Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) has been proposed as a tool for risk stratification of patients with acute chest pain (ACP). In this single-center study, we evaluated the negative predictive value of DSE in 178 patients who presented with low-risk ACP (normal or inconclusive electrocardiogram and negative markers of myocardial damage) and were discharged following a maximal DSE that did not reveal ischemia. During the follow-up (median 321 days), 2 of the 178 patients were admitted with an acute coronary syndrome and were diagnosed with obstructive coronary artery disease at angiography. In the time frame of the study, the negative predictive value of a normal and maximal DSE for an adverse cardiac event was 98.9% (95% CI: 96.0-99.8%). Thus, a normal DSE has a high negative predictive value and comprises a safe and effective tool for early risk stratification of patients who present with acute chest pain of low risk.
authors.forename: Stamatios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lerakis
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aznaouridis
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Synetos
authors.forename: Constantina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Masoura
authors.forename: Puja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Mousa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Hajj
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shukrullah
authors.forename: Randolph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martin