小剂量多巴酚丁胺超声心动图联合心肌声学造影对心肌梗死后存活心肌的诊断价值

目的前瞻性评价小剂量多巴酚丁胺超声心动图(LDDE)联合心肌声学造影(MCE)对心肌梗死后存活心肌的诊断价值。方法对24例心肌梗死者进行静态MCE、LDDE及3个月后静态超声心动图随访分析。MCE和室壁运动均用16段划分法进行目测半定量计分。心肌造影计分(MCS)回声均匀性增强为1分,回声低淡不均匀为0.5分,缺损为0分。室壁运动计分(WMS)用常规计分法。结果随访时,运动改善的心肌节段中MCS1分占49.4%、0.5分占50.6%,对LDDE均有反应;运动无改善的节段MCS0.5分占9.5%,0分占90.5%,对LDDE有反应者占13.3%,无反应占86.7%。预测存活心肌的敏感性、特异性及准确率分别为LDDE86%、86.7%、86.4%;MCE100%、89.7%、94.6%;LDDE联合MCE86.1%、100%、94.0%。结论心肌微血管结构与功能的完善是心肌存活的基本条件。MCE灌注正常和低灌注,且对多巴酚丁胺有反应的心肌有收缩力储备;而对多巴酚丁胺无反应的低灌注或无灌注心肌则多不能恢复收缩功能。LDDE联合MCE能提高检测存活心肌的特异性及准确率。     

Detection of functional recovery using low-dose dobutamine and myocardial contrast echocardiography after acute myocardial infarction treated with successful thrombolytic therapy

OBJECTIVE: We studied the value of low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography (LDDE) and myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) in early prediction of left ventricular functional recovery (LVFR) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with successful thrombolysis. DESIGN: LDDE and MCE using second-harmonic intermittent imaging were performed in first week after AMI. LVFR was defined as an absolute > or =5% increase in ejection fraction, from early to 6 months of follow-up by Technetium-99m-Sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography. PATIENTS: Out of 50 patients studied, 19 evolved with LVFR (group 1) and 31 without LVFR (group 2). Regional dysfunction was detected in 103 (37%) infarcted-related segments in group 1 and in 173 (63%) segments in group 2. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values and accuracy for detecting LVFR by LDDE were 94.7% (18/19), 87.1% (27/31), 81.8% (18/22), 96.4% (27/28), and 90% (45/50), respectively, and by MCE were 94.7% (18/19), 51.6% (16/31), 54.5% (18/33), 94.1% (16/17), and 68% (34/50). In group 1, functional improvement was observed in 86.9% (53/61) of segments with contractile reserve by LDDE and in 65.8% (52/79) of segments with microvascular perfusion by MCE. In group 2, functional improvement was observed in 78.3% (18/23) of segments with contractile reserve by LDDE and in 25.5% (25/98) of segments with microvascular perfusion by MCE. All segments without perfusion by MCE evolved without functional recovery. CONCLUSION: LDDE was an accurate predictor of late left ventricular function recovery after AMI, while MCE was sensitive and has a high negative predictive value demonstrating that microvascular perfusion is essential for LVFR.     

Dobutamine stress echocardiography can predict reversible ventricular dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: The aim of early treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is to achieve the rapid reperfusion of the culprit artery, which correlates with improvement in ventricular function and survival. With the widespread use of thrombolytic agents or coronary angioplasty as reperfusion strategies for AMI, it is possible to reduce the amount of myocardial necrosis. HYPOTHESIS: The assessment of residual viability with dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in the infarcted area after AMI is relevant to subsequent management and prognosis. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with AMI (mean age 59 +/- 12, 31 male, 22 with anterior AMI, 15 with inferior AMI) admitted to the coronary care unit within 3.8 +/- 1.8 h of the onset of symptoms were included. Two-dimensional echocardiography (2-D echo) study and DSE were performed at a mean of 4.7 +/- 1.8 days. Follow-up 2-D echo was performed at a mean of 25 +/- 11 days. To assess left ventricular regional systolic function, 2-D echo images were obtained at rest and during dobutamine-induced stress and were analyzed off-line according to the 13-segment model. Improvement in wall motion score (WMS) was defined by a decrease of at least two grades in the score. RESULTS: Wall motion score improved in 13 of the 37 patients after DSE (rest WMS 20.9 +/- 2.0 vs. D-WMS 17.7 +/- 2.2; p<0.001), which correlated with clinical or angiographic signs of reperfusion of the culprit vessel in all cases. Follow-up WMS evidenced a significant correlation with WMS after DSE (r = 0.91; p < 0.001). Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of DSE in detecting patients whose left ventricular function (LVF) improved at 2-D echo follow-up were 72,96,92.8, and 82.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Dobutamine stress echocardiography improved WMS in 35% of patients and correlated with signs of patency of the culprit vessel; (2) LVF improvement after dobutamine was predictive of late LVF recovery; (3) DSE can be a useful and safe tool for detecting reversible myocardial dysfunction after AMI.     

Functional role of microvascular integrity in patients with infarct-related artery patency after acute myocardial infarction

AIMS: The study was set up to evaluate the functional role of post-infarctpreserved microvascular integrity. Low dose dobutamine echocardiographyand myocardial contrast echocardiography were used to studypatients before hospital discharge who had suffered a recentmyocardial infarction and had a patent infarct-related artery(TIMI flow grade 3). METHOD: In the dysfunctioning infarct area, the wall motion score indexwas calculated at baseline, during the dobutamine infusion andat the 3 month follow-up echocardiogram; contrast echocardiographywas performed at the time of coronary angiography, before hospitaldischarge. RESULTS: In patients with more than 50% of the dysfunctioning infarctarea opacified at contrast echocardiography (group A), regionalwall motion score index decreased, compared to baseline, duringthe dobutamine infusion (1·97 ± 0·78 vs2·5 ± 0·35 at baseline; P<0·001)and at follow-up echocardiography (1·83 ± 0·63vs 2·5 ± 0·35 at baseline; P<0·001).In patients with less extensive microvascular integrity as revealedby contrast echocardiography (group B), regional wall motionscore index did not decrease from baseline during either thedobutamine infusion (2·73 ± 0·21 vs 2·81± 0·20 at baseline; P=ns) or at follow-up (2·81± 0·20 vs 2·81 ± 0·20 atbaseline; P=ns). CONCLUSION: In patients with post-infarct dysfunctioning myocardium buta patent infarct-related artery, microvascular integrity, asassessed by myocardial contrast echocardiography, is an indicatorof myocardial viability in terms of preserved contractile reserve,as demonstrated by dobutamine infusion and functional recoveryat follow-up.     

经静脉心肌声学造影评价心肌梗死后存活心肌的价值

目的　探讨经静脉心肌声学造影 (MCE)对心肌梗死后存活心肌的诊断价值。方法　 2 4例心肌梗死患者用二维超声评价室壁运动情况 ,同时经静脉进行MCE ,以 3个月后静态超声心动图左室心肌节段性运动改善为依据评价MCE对心肌梗死后存活心肌的诊断价值。结果　在 2 4例病人的 384个心肌节段中 ,运动异常节段 184个。在运动异常的 184个节段中 ,MCE1分 39段 ,0 5分 5 0段 ,0分 95段。 3个月复查 79个节段有运动改善 ,其中 39段来自MCE1分的心肌 ,4 0段来自MCE0 5分的心肌。MCE对预测心肌梗死后室壁运动改善的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值及准确率分别为 :10 0 %、89 7%、84 8%、10 0 %和 94 6 %。结论　MCE能比较准确地预测心肌梗死后心肌的存活性     

Dynamic changes in microcirculatory blood flow during dobutamine stress assessed by quantitative myocardial contrast echocardiography

Background: Although dobutamine‐atropine stress echocardiography (DASE) has been widely used for evaluating patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), dynamic changes that occur at microcirculatory level during each stage of stress have not been demonstrated in humans. Aim: We sought to determine variations in myocardial blood flow (MBF) during DASE using quantitative real time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RTMCE). Methods: We studied 45 patients who underwent coronary angiography and RTMCE. Replenishment velocity of microbubbles in the myocardium (β) and MBF reserves were obtained at baseline, intermediate stage (70% of maximal predicted heart rate), peak stress, and recovery phase. Results: β and MBF reserves were lower in patients with than without CAD at intermediate (1.65 vs. 2.10; P = 0.001 and 2.44 vs. 3.23; P = 0.004) and peak (1.63 vs. 3.00; P < 0.001 and 2.14 vs. 3.98; P < 0.001, respectively). In patients without CAD, β, and MBF reserves increased from intermediate to peak and decreased at recovery, while in those without CAD reserves did not change significantly. Optimal cutoff values of β reserve at intermediate, peak, and recovery were 1.78, 2.09, and 1.70, with areas under the curves of 0.80 (95%CI = 0.67–0.94), 0.89 (95%CI = 0.79–0.99), and 0.69 (95%CI = 0.53–0.85). Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for detecting CAD at intermediate stage were 68% (95%CI = 48–89), 85% (95%CI = 71–98), and 78% (95%CI = 66–90), at peak stress were 79% (95%CI = 61–97), 96% (95%CI = 89–100), and 89% (95%CI = 80–98), and at recovery were 74% (95%CI = 54–93), 65% (95%CI = 47–84), and 69% (95%CI = 55–82), respectively. Conclusion: RTMCE allows for quantification of dynamic changes in microcirculatory blood flow at each stage of DASE. The best parameter for detecting CAD in all stages was β reserve. (Echocardiography 2011;28:993‐1001)     

Identification of viable myocardium by perfusion imaging with intravenous contrast echocardiography after acute myocardial infarction

Myocardial perfusion contrast echocardiography is evolving into an effective method for the evaluation of myocardial blood flow after acute coronary events. The direct injection of ultrasound contrast agents into the aortic and coronary circulation has been shown to accurately identify areas of viable myocardial tissue. Recently, intravenous ultrasound contrast has been found to be useful in detecting microvascular blood flow after the restoration of blood flow in patients with myocardial infarction. We present the case of a patient in whom intravenous ultrasound contrast assisted in the detection of viable myocardial tissue after an acute ischemic syndrome.     

Dispersion of ventricular repolarization is determined by the presence of myocardial viability in patients with old myocardial infarction. A dobutamine stress echocardiography study.

AIMS: The study sought to investigate the relationship of myocardial viability detected by dobutamine stress echocardiography to changes of QT dispersion and to the presence of arrhythmias during dobutamine infusion in patients with old myocardial infarction. We also examined whether patency of the infarct-related artery is associated with the presence of myocardial viability and QT dispersion. BACKGROUND: QT dispersion and myocardial variability have been associated with the presence of arrhythmias during late post infarction but not during dobutamine stress. Restoration of anterograde coronary flow has beneficial effects on ventricular systolic function and repolarization, suggesting that the extent of viable myocardium may determine ventricular repolarization. METHODS: Seventy five patients with previous myocardial infarction were studied in a low dose (up to 20 microg(-1) x kg(-1) x min(-1)) dobutamine stress echocardiography study. ECGs were obtained at rest and peak stress for measurement of QT intervals. The presence of ventricular arrhythmias (Lown grade >lb) during stress was noted. A reduction in the total wall motion score of the left ventricle at peak stress confirmed the presence of myocardial viability. RESULTS: Dobutamine infusion increased QT dispersion in all patients (P<0.01). Patients with myocardial viability had a lower resting QT dispersion (P<0.05) and a greater increase in QT dispersion% (P<0.01) than patients without. The combination of a resting QT dispersion <65 ms or an increase in QT dispersion >30% predicted viability with a sensitivity of 67%, a specificity of 96%, and an accuracy of 78%. A patent infarct-related artery, as well as ventricular arrhythmias, were more commonly observed in patients with evidence of viable myocardium (P<0.05). Patients with arrhythmias had a higher QT dispersion than patients without (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The combination of a resting QT dispersion +/-65 ms or an increase in QT dispersion >30% predicts the presence of viable myocardium and thus, may represent a simple index for the assessment of viability in everyday clinical practice. Myocardial viability is related to a patent coronary artery and to a high incidence of arrhythmias accompanied by a greater increase in QT dispersion at peak dobutamine infusion.     

Role of contrast-enhanced dobutamine stress echocardiography in predicting outcome in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease

Although the application of intravenous contrast agents during stress echocardiography has been shown to improve diagnostic accuracy for detecting coronary artery disease, less information exists regarding its prognostic value. The aim of this study was to determine the role of contrast-enhanced dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) for predicting future cardiac events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We studied 893 patients (mean age: 66, 581 men) with known or suspected CAD undergoing contrast-enhanced DSE. Positivity was defined as new/worsened wall motion abnormality or fixed abnormality during stress. All patients were followed for 15 +/- 10 months to evaluate hard cardiac events (cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction) and total cardiac events (hard cardiac events, congestive heart failure, unstable angina, and late revascularization). Three patients were lost to follow-up, and 128 patients developed cardiac events, including 21 hard cardiac events. The 3-year event free survival rate was significantly lower in patients with positive DSE results than in those with negative DSE results. Stepwise Cox multivariate analysis revealed that positivity of DSE (P < 0.0001, Hazard ratio (HR): 2.48) and peak wall motion score index (WMSI) >1.5 (P < 0.0001, HR: 2.41) were independent predictors for total cardiac events. Considering hard cardiac events, the independent predictors were peak WMSI > 1.5 (P < 0.0001, HR: 6.65) and age > 70 years (P < 0.005, HR: 3.27). We conclude that contrast-enhanced DSE provides important prognostic information for future cardiac events.     

Real time contrast echocardiography--a new bedside technique to predict contractile reserve early after acute myocardial infarction.

AIMS: Power pulse inversion echocardiography is a new technique by which contrast microbubbles can be visualised in real time within the myocardium, enabling simultaneous assessment of myocardial function and microvascular integrity, which is a prerequisite for myocardial viability. We aimed to determine whether microvascular integrity using power pulse inversion can be used to predict contractile reserve early after myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 19 stable patients 5.1(1.6) days after presentation using low dose dobutamine stress echocardiography and power pulse inversion using slow bolus intravenous injections of Optison. A 16-segment left ventricular model was used to define wall thickening at baseline and following low dose dobutamine infusion (1, normal; 2, reduced; 3, absent), and contrast opacification (1, homogeneous; 2, heterogenous or reduced; 3, absent). The techniques were compared on a segment-by-segment basis to determine whether microvascular integrity (contrast opacification score of 1 or 2) could predict contractile reserve (any improvement during low dose dobutamine infusion) in segments that were akinetic at rest. Follow-up echocardiography was performed one month later. RESULTS: Ninety-four (31%) of the 304 segments were akinetic at rest, and 22 (23%) of these demonstrated contractile reserve. In 87 (92%) of the resting akinetic segments contrast opacification could be adequately determined, and of these 20 (23%) showed microvascular integrity. The negative and positive predictive value of microvascular integrity for determining contractile reserve was 90% and 65%, respectively, and 92% and 59% respectively for predicting recovery of function. CONCLUSION: Power pulse inversion can be used at rest to determine myocardial function and simultaneously to predict contractile reserve of akinetic segments in patients early after myocardial infarction. This technique has the potential to provide a bedside assessment of myocardial viability.     

Assessment of myocardial perfusion with intravenous contrast echocardiography: comparison with (99) Tc-tetrofosmin single photon emission computed tomography and dobutamine echocardiography

The aim of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of intermittent, harmonic power Doppler (HPD) during intravenous Levovist infusion in identifying myocardial perfusion abnormalities in patients with recent infarction. Fifty-five patients with first acute myocardial infarction, successfully treated by primary PTCA, were studied after 1 month by myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE), 99mTc tetrofosmin single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and low dose dobutamine echocardiography (DE). Scoring myocardial perfusion as normal, moderately, or severely reduced; MCE and SPECT were in agreement in 71% of segments(k = 0.414). Discordance was mainly due to ventricular walls with normal enhancement by MCE and moderate perfusion abnormalities by SPECT. Scoring perfusion as present or absent, the agreement significantly improved up to 86% (k = 0.59). Sensitivity and specificity of HPD for identifying SPECT perfusion defects were 63% and 93%, respectively. The agreement between MCE and SPECT was higher(85%, k = 0.627)in patients with anterior infarction. An improvement in regional contractile function was noted after dobutamine in 79 dysfunctional segments. A normal perfusion or a moderate perfusion defect by MCE were detected in 71 of 79 of these segments, while a severe perfusion defect was observed in 59 of 85 ventricular segments without dobutamine-induced wall-motion improvement. Sensitivity and specificity by HPD in detecting segments with contractile reserve were 90% and 69%, respectively. Thus, intermittent HPD during Levovist infusion allows myocardial perfusion abnormalities to be detected in patients with recent infarction. This method has a limited sensitivity but a high specificity in detecting SPECT perfusion defects, and a good sensitivity but a limited specificity in detecting contractile reserve.     

Diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value of dobutamine stress myocardial contrast echocardiography in patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes

BACKGROUND: Both early stress testing and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) measurements are useful in assessing the prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We sought to determine the accuracy and prognostic value of wall motion analysis (WMA) and myocardial perfusion analysis (MPA) with real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RTMCE) during dobutamine stress in this patient population. METHODS: We performed dobutamine stress RTMCE to assess perfusion in 158 consecutive patients (mean age: 61 +/- 13 years) with chest pain and possible ACS. Of these, 119 had normal cTnI, while 39 had isolated elevations of cTnI (range: 0.5-9.0 ng/ml). Quantitative angiography was performed within 1 month of RTMCE in 61 patients. Patients were followed for 16 months (range: 6-46 months). Cardiac events included death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, recurrent unstable angina, or need for urgent revascularization. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MPA for detecting a >50% coronary stenosis were 92%, 77%, and 88%, respectively, while they were 62%, 85%, and 67% for WMA. Three-year event-free survival was 87% in patients with negative WMA and MPA, 49% in those with positive WMA and MPA, and 51% in patients with negative WMA but positive MPA. Age-adjusted multivariate analysis demonstrated that the only independent predictors of cardiac events were a positive MPA (hazard ratio = 3.23; 95% CI = 1.23-8.49) and male sex (hazard ratio = 3.29; 95% CI = 1.21-8.97). CONCLUSIONS: In patients suspected of having an ACS, RTMCE improved the accuracy of dobutamine stress echocardiography for detecting coronary artery disease, and was an independent predictor of outcome.     

心肌声学造影对冠状动脉血运重建术心肌灌注的评价研究

目的探讨心肌声学造影（MCE）评估缺血心肌血运重建后心肌灌注的价值。方法 36例缺血性心肌病患者分别予以冠状动脉支架置入术或冠状动脉旁路移植术进行血运重建,在术前、术后早期（〈1个月）、及术后晚期（6～12）个月分别行实时MCE检查,根据造影剂的充盈程度进行评分。将其结果与相应阶段造影（CAG）和（或）冠脉增强CT成像（CTA）结果进行对照分析。结果按16段心肌节段法进行分段分析测量。36例患者576个节段中,运动异常节段247个,MCE结果与治疗前冠脉造影吻合率为89.89%。冠脉血管再通术后早期共有172个节段有改善,与冠状动脉支架置入术或冠状动脉旁路移植术靶血管供血支配区吻合率为78.00%。术后晚期,MCE与冠脉影像结果吻合率为80.56%。结论实时MCE可随访观察冠状动脉再通血运重建缺血心肌血流灌注改善的情况,可尝试用于冠心病血管重建术后的临床随访。     

Serial evaluation of perfusion defects in patients with a first acute myocardial infarction referred for primary PTCA using intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography.

AIMS: To investigate whether myocardial contrast echocardiography using Sonazoid could be used for the serial evaluation of the presence and extent of myocardial perfusion defects in patients with a first acute myocardial infarction treated with primary PTCA, and specifically, (1) to evaluate safety and efficacy of myocardial contrast echocardiography to detect TIMI flow grade 0--2, (2) to evaluate the success of reperfusion and (3) to predict left ventricular recovery after 4 weeks follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients underwent serial myocardial contrast echocardiography, immediately before primary PTCA (MCE1), 1 h (MCE2) and 12--24 h after PTCA (MCE3). A perfusion defect was observed in 21 of 24 patients (88%) with anterior acute myocardial infarction. All but one had TIMI flow grade 0--2 prior to PTCA. Nine of 31 patients (29%) with inferior acute myocardial infarction showed a perfusion defect and all had TIMI flow grade 0-2 prior to PTCA. Restoration of TIMI flow grade 3 was achieved in 73% of the patients by primary PTCA. A reduction in size of the initial perfusion defect of at least one segment (16 segment model) or no defect vs persistent defect in patients with anterior acute myocardial infarction was associated with improved global left ventricular function at 4 weeks; mean global wall motion score index 1.29+/-0.21 vs 1.66+/-0.31 (P=0.009). Multiple regression analysis in patients with an anterior acute myocardial infarction revealed that the extent of the perfusion defect at MCE3 was a significant (P=0.0005) independent predictor for left ventricular recovery at 4 weeks follow-up. The only other independent predictor was TIMI flow grade 3 post PTCA (P=0.007). CONCLUSION: Intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography immediately prior to primary PTCA seems safe and is capable of detecting the presence of a perfusion defect and its subsequent dynamic changes, particularly in patients with a first anterior acute myocardial infarction. A significant reduction in size of the initial perfusion defect using serial myocardial contrast echocardiography predicts functional recovery after 4 weeks and these findings underscore the potential diagnostic value of intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography.     

Assessment of regional myocardial blood flow with myocardial contrast echocardiography: an experimental study

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to verify the accuracy of using myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE), to quantify regional myocardial blood flow (MBF), and to evaluate myocardial viability in comparison to that measured by radiolabeled microsphere and pathologic examination. METHODS: Epicardial MCE was obtained in five myocardial ischemic dogs with constant microbubble intravenous infusion. After the video intensity (VI, y) versus pulsing interval plots derived from each myocardial pixel were fitted to an exponential function: y = A(1 - e(-beta t)), the MBF was calculated as the product of A (microvascular cross-sectional area or myocardial blood volume) and beta (mean myocardial microbubble velocity). The MBF was also obtained by radiolabeled microsphere method. RESULTS: The MBF derived by radiolabeled microsphere method in the normal, ischemic, and infarcted region was 1.5 +/- 0.3, 0.7 +/- 0.3, and 0.3 +/- 0.2 ml/min per gram, respectively; P < 0.01. The product of A and beta in those regions was 52.5 +/- 15.1, 24.4 +/- 3.9, and 3.7 +/- 3.8, respectively; P < 0.01. The normalized product of A and beta correlated well with normalized MBF (r = 0.81, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our initial study demonstrated that MCE has an ability to assess MBF in ischemic myocardium in the experimental model. It may provide a potential capability to detect viable myocardium noninvasively after total persistent coronary occlusion in the clinical setting.     

Myocardial contrast echocardiography in acute myocardial infarction: Pathophysiological background and clinical applications

Myocardial contrast echocardiography is a technique used inexperimental and clinical settings in order to visualize thepattern of intramyocardial perfusion. In the acute phase ofmyocardial infarction, regional absence of flow during myocardialcontrast echocardiography delineates the area at risk of necrosis,while the definitive non-perfused area expresses infarct size.Reopening the infarct-related artery, which may be achievedspontaneously by thrombolysis or percutaneous transluminal coronaryangioplasty, is not a reliable indicator of intramyocardialreperfusion. If myocardial ischaemia due to coronary occlusionhas been sufficiently prolonged and severe, not only myocyteviability, but also microvascular integrity is lost. Myocardialcontrast echocardiography, using intracoronary injection ofsonicated contrast medium, gives information about microvascularintegrity and the effective presence of intramyocardial reflow.Anatomical integrity of microvasculature does not necessarilyimply preserved function, and thus the microvessel vasodilatingreserve may also be impaired. Myocardial contrast echocardiographyhas the potential to assess alterations in microvascular function,showing, in the myocardial area with reduced coronary reserve,a relatively reduced increase in echocontrast signal intensitywhen an intravenous vasodilator agent is administered. (Eur Heart J 1996; 17: 344–353)     

Assessment of myocardial viability using myocardial contrast echocardiography

Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) is a technique that uses microbubbles as a tracer during simultaneous ultrasound of the heart. The microbubbles can be used to provide quantitative information regarding the adequacy of myocardial blood flow (MBF), as well as the spatial extent of microvascular integrity. In acute myocardial infarction, MCE can identify the presence of collateral flow within the risk area, and can therefore predict preservation of myocardial viability and ultimate infarct size even prior to reperfusion. After reperfusion, the extent of microvascular no-reflow can be determined, and has significant implications for recovery of left ventricular function. In chronic ischemic heart disease, MCE has also been shown to successfully differentiate viable from necrotic myocardium. This technique can accurately predict recovery of function after revascularization. More importantly, MCE can be used to identify viable segments that may help to prevent infarct expansion and remodeling, and thus improve patient outcomes.     

Assessment of myocardial viability with dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction

The noninvasive assessment of myocardial viability has proved clinically useful for distinguishing hibernating and/or stunned myocardium from irreversibly injured myocardium in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease or recent myocardial infarction, with marked regional and/or global left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Noninvasive techniques utilized for the detection of viability in asynergic myocardial regions include positron emission tomographic imaging of residual metabolic activity, single photon emission tomography (SPECT) of radioisotope uptake with thallium-201, low-dose dobutamine echocardiography assessment of inotropic reserve and myocardial contrast echocardiography for evaluation of microvascular integrity. Of these techniques, dobutamine stress echocardiography is a safe, widely available and relatively inexpensive modality for the identification of myocardial viability for risk stratification and prognosis. Low-dose dobutamine response can accurately predict improvement of dysfunctional yet viable myocardial regions, and thus identify a subset of patients whose LV function will improve following successful coronary revascularization.     

Usefulness of quantitative intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography to analyze microvasculature perfusion in patients with a recent myocardial infarction and an open infarct-related artery: comparison with intracoronary myocardial contrast echocardiography.

AIMS: We analyzed the usefulness of quantitative intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography to study microvasculature perfusion after infarction in comparison with intracoronary myocardial contrast echocardiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with a first ST elevation myocardial infarction, single-vessel disease and an open artery (TIMI 3) were studied before discharge. Myocardial perfusion in the risk area was quantified with intracoronary and intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography. Perfusion was normal (intracoronary contrast echocardiography normalized videointensity >0.75) in 78 out of 97 dysfunctional segments (80%). Sensitivity and specificity of intravenous contrast echocardiography to predict normal perfusion were 87% and 63% for 'first-pass myocardial blood flow' (upslope of contrast arrival x peak intensity after intravenous bolus injection of contrast) and 91% and 89% for end-systolic single-triggered images captured every 6 cycles, respectively. In an analysis per patients, normal perfusion (0 or 1 hypoperfused segments with intracoronary contrast echocardiography) was observed in 22 cases (69%). End-systolic single-triggered images showed a strong correlation with intracoronary contrast echocardiography (R2 = 0.82, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous contrast echocardiography is a useful technique to analyze microvasculature perfusion soon after infarction. A quantitative analysis of single-triggered images is an easy-to-obtain and reliable method to define perfusion when compared with intracoronary contrast echocardiography.     

Differential value of adenosine myocardial contrast echocardiography and dobutamine stress echocardiography in evaluating functional significance of coronary artery stenosis in a porcine model

Aim Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) during adenosine induced hyperemia is an experimental method that detects flow limiting coronary artery stenosis by visualizing myocardial perfusion defects. Noninvasive detection of flow limiting coronary artery stenosis in clinical routine is a frequent domaine of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) visualizing ischemia related regional wall motion abnormalities. This study investigated the values of adenosine MCE and DSE in the detection of functionally significant coronary artery stenosis in an experimental open chest pig model. Methods A total of 28 proximal LAD stenoses were instrumented in 12 animals. Reduction of coronary blood flow reserve (Δ CFR [%]) was calculated as a marker of functional significance of coronary artery stenosis (mild to moderate stenosis: Δ CRF ≤ 50%; severe stenosis: Δ CFR > 50%). Fractional area shortening (FAS) and wall thickening (WT) were calculated to evaluate regional wall motion. Peak myocardial contrast intensities (PCI) were measured following aortic root injections of Levovist' to detect myocardial perfusion defects. Results As a group, severe stenosis significantly reduced wall motion response to dobutamine (Δ FAS: 12.0 ± 3.0%, vs. 20 ± 3.0% without stenosis, p < 0.05; Δ WT: 2.2 ± 0.9 mm vs. 0.0 ± 0.8 mm without stenosis, p < 0.05) and diminished myocardial opacification during hyperemia (PCI: 59 ± 8 units vs. 143 ± 16 units without stenosis, p < 0.05). Mild to moderate stenosis did not influence wall motion but reduced myocardial opacification (PCI 89 ± 14 units vs. 143 ± 16 units). PCI correlated more closely with alterations in CFR (r = −0.7, p < 0.0001) than did FAS (r = −0.5, p < 0.002) or WT (r = −0.2, p = 0.3). Conclusion Adenosine myocardial contrast echocardiography detects flow limiting coronary artery stenosis and compares favorably to regional wall motion analysis during dobutamine infusion. Received: 22 May 2000 / Returned for 1. revision: 26 June 2000 / 1. Revision returned: 11 September 2000 / Returned for 2. revision: 11 October 2000 / 2. Revision returned: 21 December 2000 / Accepted: 15 January 2001