Feasibility of using tissue Doppler velocities in stress echo during upright bicycle exercise.
OBJECTIVE
There are several studies on myocardial tissue Doppler velocities during dobutamine stress, but few studies on the same parameters during bicycle exercise. We wanted to examine how sample sites affected velocities, beat-to-beat variability and segments eligible for analysis.


METHODS
Twenty patients with normal coronary arteries were included in the study. Echocardiograms were obtained at rest and at peak exercise on the exercise bike and were analyzed off line by two independent raters.


CONCLUSIONS
Tissue velocities decreased from base to apex. Mean difference between the raters was-0.02 cm/sec at rest and 0.45 cm/sec during exercise. Peak-to-peak variability was lowest in the mitral ring during rest (10-14%) and increased at peak exercise (15-21%). The proportion of segments eligible for analysis was 84% in the septum and 67% in the anterior wall during exercise. Thus, in patients with normal coronary arteries, tissue Doppler velocities decrease from base toward the apex during bicycle exercise. Interrater agreement is reduced during exercise and beat-to-beat variability is lowest in the mitral ring.
Hovland
Anders
A
Coronary Care Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Nordland Hospital, Bodø, Norway. anders.w.hovland@gmail.com
Bjørnstad
Hanne
H
Prytz
Jan
J
Støylen
Asbjørn
A
Vik-Mo
Harald
H
D025401:Echocardiography, Stress / Q000379:methods*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*