Potential pitfalls of visualization of myocardial perfusion by myocardial contrast echocardiography with harmonic gray scale B-mode and power Doppler imaging

OBJECTIVE: The present study compared the regional variation of myocardial signal intensity in visualizing myocardial perfusion by myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) between harmonic gray scale and power Doppler imaging. METHODS: MCE was performed in 12 patients by electrocardiographic (ECG)-gated intermittent triggered MCE with harmonic gray scale and power Doppler imaging following slow intravenous injection of 0.5 ml contrast agent (Optison). The interval between the ECG triggers (pulsing interval) was increased from every heart beat (1:1) to every 2 (1:2), 4 (1:4), and 8 (1:8) cardiac cycles to allow incremental microbubble (contrast agent) replenishment. The MCE images were recorded when attenuation produced by the left ventricular cavity was minimal. The background-subtracted videointensity was measured in 7 segments in an apical 4-chamber view: 3 (apical, mid, and basal) septal segments, 3 (apical, mid, and basal) lateral segments, and 1 apex segment (apical cap). RESULTS: The background-subtracted videointensity for each segment was greater with the power Doppler than the gray scale imaging (p < 0.01). With the gray scale imaging, the background-subtracted videointensity in the basal septal segment demonstrated a negative value at all pulsing intervals, and the value (-9 +/- 13) was significantly lower than that (22 +/- 20) in the apical lateral segment at a pulsing interval of 1:8 (p < 0.01). With power Doppler imaging, the background-subtracted videointensity was high even in the basal septal segment (112 +/- 33), and no significant difference was observed among each segment. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion based upon background-subtracted video-intensity may be difficult in the far field with harmonic gray scale imaging although the attenuation is not apparent by visual analysis. Harmonic power Doppler is more sensitive for detecting basilar perfusion in the far field compared with harmonic gray scale imaging.     

Dual-spectra ultrasonography: an attenuation-compensating technique for myocardial perfusion analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the harmonic-fundamental frequency ratio peak for user-independent differentiation of myocardial perfusion under clinically relevant levels of signal attenuation. METHODS: Radio frequency data were obtained by using apical long-axis scans in 11 open-chest pigs during continuous infusion of a contrast agent after left anterior descending artery occlusion. Silicone pads were interposed between the transducer and the heart to simulate levels of thoracic wall attenuation. Samples of image data from perfused and nonperfused regions were collected; values using harmonic-fundamental frequency ratio peak and conventional harmonic gray scale intensity techniques were calculated. RESULTS: At each attenuation level, the harmonic-fundamental frequency ratio peak value of perfused myocardium was higher than that of nonperfused myocardium (P < .0001). The variance of these values was smaller than that of the gray scale intensity values (P < .0001), with smaller overlap between harmonic-fundamental frequency ratio peak values differentiating perfused and nonperfused regions. In the receiver operating characteristic curves, this analysis had better diagnostic performance than gray scale analysis. In the optimal cutoff value, harmonic-fundamental frequency ratio peak analysis provided 87% sensitivity and 91% specificity; gray scale analysis had 80% sensitivity and 78% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Harmonic-fundamental frequency ratio peak analysis differentiated perfused from nonperfused myocardium under clinically relevant attenuation conditions and provided higher sensitivity and specificity for perfusion determination in attenuated myocardium than did gray scale intensity analysis.     

Effects of tissue anisotropy and contrast acoustic properties on myocardial scattering in contrast echocardiography.

In this study we explored the potential effects that tissue anisotropy, in conjunction with the acoustic properties of contrast, may have on quantitative measurements of myocardial perfusion with the use of ultrasonic contrast agents. We used a computer simulation of the parasternal short-axis view, based on previously measured values for the anisotropy of backscatter and attenuation of myocardium, to predict the backscattered energy from 18 specific regions within the heart before and after myocardial contrast perfusion. Results demonstrated a regional variation of contrast enhancement in the short-axis view and variations caused by incremental increases in contrast level for specific myocardial regions. Thus quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion with contrast echocardiography is influenced by the anisotropic properties of the myocardium, and the resulting postcontrast image will depend on the interaction between tissue properties and contrast acoustic properties. The degree of myocardial enhancement caused by the presence of contrast may depend on the spatial position of the specific region investigated with respect to the transducer and the amount of contrast in the myocardium.     

Quantitative evaluation of local myocardial blood volume in contrast echocardiography

Myocardial perfusion is usually assessed by Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) imaging. Information about myocardial perfusion is sometimes deduced from angiography or Computed Tomography (CT) angiography, which detect coronary artery stenosis. Contrast echocardiography can be used for that purpose as well. However, the currently available data acquisition and analysis methods are difficult to manage in the clinical environment. This paper presents a novel contrast echo data acquisition protocol and parameter extraction procedure, providing an automatic quantitative evaluation of the local myocardial blood volume for the entire left ventricular myocardium. This information is indicative of local perfusion. Our method evaluates the myocardial blood volume according to the local gray level intensity, as measured during a single heartbeat, when there is a distinct myocardial opacification (based on visual estimation). The echocardiographic image analysis is based on a new attenuation correction technique, which compensates for the ultrasonic signal attenuation in both the tissue and the contrast agent. In comparison, the existing contrast echo based methods utilize the long-term temporal variability of the gray level to extract information regarding the local myocardial blood flow velocity. Our technique has been tested on 17 cine-loops of 15 different patients. We have found a high correlation between abnormal segments, detected automatically by our technique, and segments that have been clinically diagnosed as ischemic (at rest) or infarcted. For that purpose, we have defined ischemic segments as segments fed by coronary arteries with severe stenosis, as determined by angiography, and infarcted segments as segments after Acute Myocardial Infarction, as detected by electrocardiography. Furthermore, we have found a high correlation between the automatically calculated myocardial blood volume levels and the clinical evaluation of segmental contractility, based on echocardiographic imaging.     

心肌造影超声心动图与存活心肌的检测

研究表明,冠脉微血管的完整性是心肌存活的必备条件.由于心肌造影超声心动图在对心肌微循环灌注进行定性、定量评估的同时,还能检测局部室壁运动功能,因此,它在存活心肌的检测方面具有独到的应用价值.     

间歇谐波成像克服心肌声学造影中的远程衰减

目的　评价间歇谐波成像技术（ＩＨＩ） 在克服静脉心肌声学造影远程衰减方面的价值。方法　分别于前降支结扎前、结扎后以及重新开放状况,用ＩＨＩ 技术于左室短轴观观察经犬静脉心肌声学造影效果。结果　基础状态造影１２ 次均见左室心肌满意显影;结扎前降支后重复静脉声学造影４ 次均见左室前壁声学造影缺损,而重新开放前降支后的４ 次造影均见原声学造影缺损区重新显影。全部造影过程中左室后壁充盈良好。结论　经静脉注射自制氟碳造影剂可用于评价心肌血流灌注,而ＩＨＩ 技术的应用可较好克服远程回声衰减问题。     

Patterns of myocardial perfusion in humans evaluated with contrast-enhanced 320 multidetector computed tomography

Left ventricular (LV) myocardial contrast enhancement can be recorded using 320 multi detector computed tomography (MDCT). We aimed to (1) assess patterns of regional myocardial perfusion at rest and compare them with NH(3) positron emission tomography (PET) (2) and to assess the effect of intravenous adenosine infusion on regional myocardial perfusion. To evaluate myocardial perfusion patterns at rest, we scanned 14 healthy subjects with PET and 14 age and gender matched subjects with 320 MDCT. To evaluate the effect of adenosine stress on relative perfusion patterns 14 subjects with near-normal epicardial coronary arteries were studied at rest and during adenosine stress. Relative perfusion was assessed as attenuation density (AD) in 16 segments of the LV, and each segment was divided into 3 layers: endo-, mid- and epi-cardial. During rest the relative AD by MDCT was lower in the lateral wall compared with the remainder of the LV (P?相似文献   

Adjunctive role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in the assessment of patients with inferior attenuation on myocardial perfusion SPECT.

PURPOSE: Inferior attenuation is a common problem in the interpretation of myocardial perfusion SPECT. We explored whether cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) was a useful adjunct in differentiating between artifactual attenuation of the inferior wall and the presence of myocardial infarction and/or ischemia. METHODS: We used CMR to assess resting wall motion, myocardial perfusion, and the presence of infarction with late gadolinium enhancement in 30 patients with presumed inferior attenuation on ungated myocardial perfusion SPECT, but where uncertainty was present over interpretation of the inferior wall. Perfusion CMR was analyzed visually and quantitatively. RESULTS: In 23 patients (77%), CMR excluded infarction or ischemia in the inferior wall. The myocardial perfusion reserve index (MPR1) was the same in the inferior and remote myocardium (1.74 +/- 0.43 vs. 1.77 +/- 0.50, p = 0.61). Coronary angiography was performed in 11 of these patients, and was normal in all cases. In the remaining seven subjects (23%), significant abnormality was detected by CMR (infarction, 5; wall motion abnormality, 3; perfusion defect, 5). In these patients, the MPR1 was reduced in the inferior myocardium compared with remote (1.07 +/- 0.19 vs. 1.74 +/- 0.49, p = 0.04). Coronary angiography was performed in three of these patients, revealing significant coronary disease in the artery supplying the inferior territory in all patients. CONCLUSION: Approximately one-quarter of patients with inferior attenuation on ungated, nonattenuation corrected myocardial perfusion SPECT have abnormalities on CMR. CMR can readily distinguish between artifact, ischemia, and infarction in these cases and in some cases might obviate the need for diagnostic coronary angiography.     

Optimal timing for first-pass stress CT myocardial perfusion imaging

CT-based myocardial perfusion imaging (CTP) has been shown to accurately detect myocardial perfusion defects when compared to SPECT. When performing single-phase first-pass stress CTP, timing is of major importance. The aim of this study was to provide guidance for optimal timing of single-phase first-pass stress CTP acquisitions. 16 patients (12 male, age, 69 ± 8 years) with known or suspected coronary artery disease underwent invasive coronary angiography with fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements using a pressure wire as well as a time-resolved CTP protocol under adenosine stress, performed on a dual-Source CT scanner over a period of 30 s. From the CTP data, time-attenuation curves have been determined both in known ischemic myocardium with a corresponding coronary artery stenosis as proven by a FFR below 0.75 in invasive coronary angiography, as well as in non-ischemic reference myocardium during pharmacological stress. Furthermore, contrast enhancement in the ascending aorta was determined. The time point for an optimal contrast (i.e., difference in Hounsfield Units, HU) between ischemic and normal myocardium was determined. Under pharmacological stress using adenosine, a maximum mean HU difference between ischemic and non-ischemic myocardium (17.7–22.5 HU) was observed 24–32 s after injection of contrast medium. The maximal attenuation difference between normal and ischemic myocardium ranged from 15 to 77 HU in the analyzed patient cohort. When applying a bolus-tracking technique with an automatic contrast detection in the proximal ascending aorta, the optimal time frame for stress CTP was between 8 and 16 s after contrast enhancement in the aorta exceeds 100 HU, or between 7 and 15 s using a threshold of 150 HU. For first-pass CT myocardial perfusion imaging there is a time frame of approximately 8 s for optimal differentiation of ischemic and non-ischemic myocardium, which will be helpful to optimize single-phase CTP scans.     

实时心肌超声造影评估心肌灌注的临床研究

目的探讨冠状动脉支架置入术前后局部心肌血流灌注的变化。方法对7例正常人和20例冠心病患者支架术前后,分别行实时心肌超声造影检查,根据造影剂的充盈程度进行评分,并观察双嘧达莫负荷前后闪烁显像时,心肌血流再灌注状况。结果治疗前缺血心肌的造影记分指数负荷前后均低于正常心肌,支架术后灌注明显改善,基础状态和负荷后的造影记分、记分指数较术前好转。结论冠状动脉支架置入术可改善缺血心肌血流灌注,实时心肌超声造影可评价心肌微循环灌注。     

利声显经静脉心肌声学造影评价心肌梗死后患者的心肌灌注

目的 心肌造影超声心动图（MCE）采用触发谐频能量多普勒显像模式并用静脉持续输液利声显,观察心肌梗死后患者的心肌灌注情况,方法,使用谐频频率1．8－3．6MHZ的能量多普勒模式,于心电图T波终末处,按1：4心动周期进行触发,利声显浓度为300mg/ml,采用微量输液泵将所配心肌造影剂于患者左肘静脉内持续输注4 min(2ml/min),25例心肌梗死后患者的血压和心率变化并对心肌灌注情况进行半定量分析。结果 （1）MCE前后,患者血压和心率改变无明显差异;（2）触发谐频能量多普勒显像模式并用静脉持续输液min的心肌显影效果,而后方衰减可以避免。结论 触发谐频能量多普显像并用静脉持续输注利声显,可以产生较好的心肌灌注显像效果。     

二次谐波触发显像声学造影评价急性心肌缺血的实验研究

目的　采用二次谐波触发显像超声造影评价急性缺血心肌血流灌注。方法　对 10只犬急性心肌缺血模型用自制的白蛋白氟碳气体声学造影剂进行心肌声学造影 ,测量心肌灌注缺损面积 ,与心肌病理染色对照。结果　造影后正常心肌回声显著增强。缺血心肌呈现灌注缺损。缺损面积与心肌病理染色测值相关良好。结论　自制的声学造影剂安全有效 ,能用于动物心肌缺血的实验研究。     

经静脉实时心肌造影超声心动图评估心肌梗死后存活心肌

目的探讨经静脉实时心肌造影超声心动图（RT-MCE）评估心肌梗死后存活心肌。方法18例准备进行血运重建术心肌梗死患者,于术前1-5天行RT-MCE检查,并于术后3个月再次行常规超声心动图检查,室壁运动分析采用18节段分析法,分为运动正常、运动减弱、无运动和反常运动。心肌存活定义为术后超声检查室壁运动明显改善。将造影结果分为3种情况：充盈缺损,造影剂充盈延迟、回声稀疏不均匀或心内膜下充盈缺损,回声均匀性增强。其中后两种情况定义为存活心肌。结果在18例心肌梗死患者中共检出109个室壁运动异常节段,运动减弱为47个,无运动为56个,反常运动为6个。注射造影剂后回声均匀性增强的心肌节段中有2个节段术前室壁运动减弱,术后运动均改善;回声不均匀或心内膜下充盈缺损的心肌节段中术前室壁运动减弱有24个节段,术后运动改善14个,术前室壁无运动有24个节段,术后运动改善20个;充盈缺损的心肌节段中术前室壁运动减弱有21个节段,术后运动均未改善,术前室壁无运动32个,术后运动改善2个。RT-MCE检出存活心肌的敏感性、特异性分别为94.7%、78.9%。结论RT-MCE能比较准确的判断心肌梗死后心肌的存活性。     

间断触发显像技术评价急性心肌梗死“危险区”的实验研究

目的探讨经静脉心肌超声造影过程中触发间隔长短对急性心肌梗死后“危险区”面积测定的影响。方法采用冠状动脉左前降支结扎法建立兔急性心肌梗死模型,经静脉持续匀速输注自制高分子材料超声造影剂（高聚显）,应用间断谐波成像,在不同的触发间隔下,判定心肌超声造影触发间隔长短对急性心肌梗死后“危险区”面积测量的影响。及定量触发间隔对“危险区”面积测量的影响程度。结果在触发间隔为1～10RR时,测定的“危险区”面积随触发间隔的延长而减小,但10RR后“危险区”面积不再减小。心肌微血管内的造影剂进出已经达到平衡,即10RR后的“危险区”就是真正的无血流灌注区。结论触发间隔长短对左室乳头肌短轴切面“危险区”面积的测量有明显影响,在持续静脉输注法行超声造影动态评价心肌“危险区”面积时一定要充分考虑到触发间隔这一影响参数。     

二次谐波经静脉左心造影剂的研究

近几年二次谐波成像技术的应用 ,使超声心动图造影检查取得了新的突破 ,而经静脉注射造影剂产生左室和心肌显像的研究产生飞跃。经静脉左心造影剂的开发和应用 ,使越来越多的人接受了这种无创、快速、准确的检测左心室结构、功能和心肌血流灌注的方法。本文从二次谐波经静脉左心造影剂的特性对左心和心肌显像的影响 ;造影剂的剂量对造影成像质量的影响 ;成像方式对造影剂的影响 ;以及造影剂的临床应用等方面概述了近几年经静脉左心造影剂研究的进展 ,并列举出一些常用的二次谐波造影剂供研究者参考     

选择性心肌超声造影对冠状动脉介入治疗后即刻心肌灌注变化的初步研究

目的 采用选择性心肌超声造影（MCE）探讨冠状动脉介入（PCI）术后冠状动脉微循环改善情况。方法 对14例冠心病患者分别于PCI术前及冠状动脉开通后即刻经冠状动脉注射造影剂，在对比脉冲序列成像（CPS）条件下行MCE检查，对比观察心肌显影效果，并采用CUSQ软件进行脱机分析，计算心肌节段微血管灌注的平均灌注量（minivalue）。结果 冠状动脉内注入造影剂即刻能够获得清晰心肌显影，所有患者均获得较满意的左心室及心肌显影。14例患者中12例冠状动脉开通，2例冠状动脉慢性闭塞未能开通。13例于PCI术前MCE显示狭窄或闭塞冠状动脉的对应心肌节段显示节段性充盈减低或无造影剂充盈，1例慢性冠状动脉闭塞性病变患者冠状动脉造影显示侧支循环良好，MCE显示闭塞冠状动脉对应心肌节段充盈基本接近正常。冠状动脉成功开通的12例患者术后即刻MCE显示11例术前闭塞冠状动脉对应心肌节段充盈较术前改善，心肌节段微血管灌注的平均灌注量较术前增加（P〈0．05），1例改善不明显。结论 PCI能够有效改善病变心肌微循环，选择性MCE在CPS条件下能够准确、快速、有效地评价PCI后心肌再灌注情况。     

定量组织速度成像技术评价心肌梗死患者局部心肌的收缩后收缩

目的 探讨定量组织成像技术(QTVI)评价3支血管病变的心肌梗死患者左心室局部心肌各时期纵向运动特点和在等容舒张期出现的收缩后收缩现象及临床意义。方法 应用定量组织速度成像技术评价30例心肌梗死患者(MI组)和30例无任何心脏疾患者(对照组)的左心室局部心肌，获得纵向上不同壁的基底段和中间段同步多普勒速度、时间速度积分曲线，测量其等容收缩期(IVC)、射血期(S)、等容舒张期(IVR)、快速充盈期(E)、心房收缩期(A)的峰值速度(VIC、VS、VIR、Vg、VA)和最大时间速度积分(TVImax)。结果 MI组纵向上心肌各节段运动峰值速度均较对照组下降，梗死节段更明显。等容舒张期多个节段出现的异常正向波提示收缩后收缩。此外，梗死组多个节段时间速度积分出现收缩期末和等容舒张期两个波峰，TVImax较对照组明显下降。结论 3支病变血管的心肌梗死患者收缩和舒张功能明显减低；等容舒张期的异常活动提示收缩后收缩，存在局部心肌的室壁运动异常；等容舒张期的VIR是局部心肌室壁运动异常和心肌缺血的标志。     

Regional contrast agent quantification in a mouse model of myocardial infarction using 3D cardiac T1 mapping

Background

Quantitative relaxation time measurements by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) are of paramount importance in contrast-enhanced studies of experimental myocardial infarction. First, compared to qualitative measurements based on signal intensity changes, they are less sensitive to specific parameter choices, thereby allowing for better comparison between different studies or during longitudinal studies. Secondly, T₁ measurements may allow for quantification of local contrast agent concentrations. In this study, a recently developed 3D T₁ mapping technique was applied in a mouse model of myocardial infarction to measure differences in myocardial T₁ before and after injection of a liposomal contrast agent. This was then used to assess the concentration of accumulated contrast agent.

Materials and methods

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced in 8 mice by transient ligation of the LAD coronary artery. Baseline quantitative T₁ maps were made at day 1 after surgery, followed by injection of a Gd-based liposomal contrast agent. Five mice served as control group, which followed the same protocol without initial surgery. Twenty-four hours post-injection, a second T₁ measurement was performed. Local ΔR₁ values were compared with regional wall thickening determined by functional cine CMR and correlated to ex vivo Gd concentrations determined by ICP-MS.

Results

Compared to control values, pre-contrast T₁ of infarcted myocardium was slightly elevated, whereas T₁ of remote myocardium did not significantly differ. Twenty-four hours post-contrast injection, high ΔR₁ values were found in regions with low wall thickening values. However, compared to remote tissue (wall thickening > 45%), ΔR₁ was only significantly higher in severe infarcted tissue (wall thickening < 15%). A substantial correlation (r = 0.81) was found between CMR-based ΔR₁ values and Gd concentrations from ex vivo ICP-MS measurements. Furthermore, regression analysis revealed that the effective relaxivity of the liposomal contrast agent was only about half the value determined in vitro.

Conclusions

3D cardiac T₁ mapping by CMR can be used to monitor the accumulation of contrast agents in contrast-enhanced studies of murine myocardial infarction. The contrast agent relaxivity was decreased under in vivo conditions compared to in vitro measurements, which needs consideration when quantifying local contrast agent concentrations.     

Rapid quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion: spectral analysis of myocardial contrast echocardiographic images.

We described a novel rapid spectral analysis technique performed on raw digital in-phase quadrature (IQ) data that quantitatively differentiated perfused from nonperfused myocardium based on the simultaneous comparison of local fundamental and harmonic frequency band intensity levels. In open-chest pigs after ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and continuous venous contrast infusion, the fundamental-to-harmonic intensity ratio (FHIR) for samples placed within the left ventricular (LV) cavity (10.8 +/- 1.7 dB) and perfused myocardium (13.7 +/- 1.6 dB) were significantly (P <.001) lower than for nonperfused myocardium (27.1 +/- 2.9 dB). In attenuated images, the FHIR for the LV cavity and perfused myocardium were also significantly (P <.05) lower than for the nonperfused myocardium (21.4 +/- 3.0 dB, 34.4 +/- 3.2 dB, and 40.2 +/- 4.4 dB, respectively). Spectral properties of contrast microbubbles, as characterized by the FHIR, allow for rapid quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion from data contained in a single-image frame, without requiring background image subtraction and image averaging.     

First-pass myocardial perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance at 3 Tesla.

PURPOSE: To test the feasibility of first-pass contrast-enhanced myocardial perfusion imaging at 3 Tesla and to evaluate the change in perfusion index between normal, remote and ischemic myocardium, we obtained perfusion index from healthy subjects and patients with coronary artery stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First-pass contrast-enhanced perfusion imaging was performed on 12 patients and 32 age-matched healthy subjects in both rest and dipyridamole-induced stress states. After bolus injection of contrast agent, Gd-DTPA with dose of 0.025 mmol/kg body weight and injection time of 1.5 s, three short-axis images from apex to base of the left ventricle (LV) were acquired for 80 cardiac cycles using saturation recovery turbo FLASH sequence. The maximal upslope (Upslope) was derived from the signal-time curves of the LV cavity and myocardium to measure myocardial perfusion. Within 72 hours after cardiovascular magnetic resonance examination, patients received coronary angiography, and the results were correlated with cardiovascular magnetic resonance results. RESULTS: Using our protocol of contrast agent administration, sufficient perfusion contrast was obtained without susceptibility-induced signal drop-out at the interface between LV cavity and the myocardium. In healthy volunteers, Upslope showed no dependence on myocardial segments or coronary territories. Upslope increased significantly from rest to stress in normal myocardium (0.09 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.16 +/- 0.05, p < 0.001) and remote myocardium (0.09 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.13 +/- 0.03, p < 0.001), whereas in ischemic myocardium the change was insignificant (0.11 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.10 +/- 0.04, p = ns). This resulted in significant difference in the ratio of Upslope at stress to that at rest, representing myocardial perfusion reserve, between ischemic and non-ischemic myocardium (0.96 +/- 0.41 vs. 1.71 +/- 0.42, p < 0.001 for ischemic vs. normal myocardium; 0.96 +/- 0.41 vs. 1.59 +/- 0.40, p < 0.001 for ischemic vs. remote myocardium). CONCLUSIONS: First-pass gadolinium-enhanced myocardial perfusion imaging at 3 Tesla is feasible. The Upslope ratio can differentiate ischemic from non-ischemic myocardium.