Long-term prognosis after normal dobutamine stress echocardiography

Patients with normal dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) were shown to have a favorable outcome at an intermediate-term follow-up. However, there are scarce data regarding long-term survival after normal DSE. This study sought to assess the long-term outcome after normal DSE. We studied 401 patients (age 62 +/- 10 years, 264 men) who had a normal echocardiogram at rest and with high-dose dobutamine stress. End points during a mean follow-up of 5 +/- 1.7 years (minimum 3.5) were all-cause mortality and hard cardiac events (cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction). During follow-up, 45 patients (11%) died due to various causes (cardiac death in 10 patients). Thirteen patients had nonfatal myocardial infarction (a total of 23 hard cardiac events). The annual mortality rate was 2% in the first 3 years and 2.4% between the fourth and sixth years. The annual hard cardiac event rate was 0.8% in the first 3 years and 1.7% between the fourth and sixth years. Predictors of mortality in a multivariate analysis model were advanced age (hazard ratio 1.2, 95% confidence interval CI 1.1 to 1.4) and higher heart rate at rest (hazard ratio 0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.85 to 0.99). Patients with normal DSE had excellent outcomes during the 3 years after the study. The cardiac event rate was higher between the fourth and sixth year; therefore, it may be useful to repeat the study after 3 years to reassess risk status.     

Long-term prognosis in women with normal dobutamine stress echocardiography

Although the long-term prognosis for patients with a normal dobutamine stress echocardiographic result is good, most studies have focused on men. We assessed the long-term cardiac prognosis for women by reviewing the cases of 100 women who underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography for suspected coronary artery disease and found that women with a normal result have an excellent long-term cardiac prognosis.     

Long-term prognostic value of dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with atrial fibrillation

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term prognostic value of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) for cardiac events (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and late revascularization) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: Baseline ECGs were studied in patients undergoing DSE between 1989 and 1998. Sixty-nine patients had AF before DSE. Prognostic value of DSE in these patients was compared with a control group who had sinus rhythm (n = 1,664). The presence of stress-induced ischemia was noted for every patient. The mean follow-up period was 35 months (range, 6 to 84 months). Data are presented as hazards ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Heart rate at rest was higher in patients with AF (77 +/- 15 beats/min vs 73 +/- 14 beats/min; p = 0.04); however, double product at peak stress was not different between patients with AF and sinus rhythm (17,602 vs 17,169, respectively; p = 0.46). In patients with AF, target heart rate was achieved at a lower dobutamine dose (33 +/- 8 microg/kg/min vs 35 +/- 9 microg/kg/min; p = 0.01). Cardiac arrhythmias occurred more frequently (12% vs 5%; p = 0.001) in patients with AF during DSE. During a follow-up period of 7 years, cardiac death occurred in 5 patients, myocardial infarction in 2 patients, and late revascularization in 10 patients. Prognostic value of DSE for all late cardiac events was similar in patients with AF (HR, 3.0; 95% CI, 0.9 to 9.5) and sinus rhythm (HR, 3.4; 95% CI, 2.7 to 4.3; p = 0.85). CONCLUSION: The prognostic value of DSE for late cardiac events is maintained in patients with AF.     

Real-time three-dimensional dobutamine stress echocardiography in assessment stress echocardiography in assessment of ischemia: comparison with two-dimensional dobutamine stress echocardiography

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to test the feasibility and efficacy of using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3D) to detect ischemia during dobutamine-induced stress (DSE) and compares the results with conventional two-dimensional echocardiography (2D). BACKGROUND: Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography, a novel imaging technique, offers rapid acquisition with multiple simultaneous views of the left ventricle (LV). These features make it attractive for application during stress. METHODS: Of 279 consecutive patients screened for image quality by 2D, 253 patients with adequate images underwent RT-3D and 2D within 30 s of each other at baseline and at peak DSE. RESULTS: Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography and 2D showed good concordance in detection of abnormal LV wall motion at baseline (84%: Kappa = 0.59) and at peak DSE (88.9%: Kappa = 0.72). Left ventricular wall motion scores were similar at baseline and peak DSE using both techniques. Interobserver agreements for detection of ischemia at peak DSE were superior for RT-3D, 92.7% compared with 84.6% for 2D (p < 0.05). Mean scanning time at peak stress by RT-3D in 50 randomly selected patients was shorter, 27.4 +/- 10.7 s compared with 62.4 +/- 20.1 s by 2D (p < 0.0001). In 90 patients with coronary angiograms, RT-3D had a sensitivity of 87.9% in the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) compared with 79.3% by 2D. CONCLUSIONS: Real-time three-dimensional dobutamine stress echocardiography is feasible and sensitive in the detection of CAD. The procedure offers shorter scanning time, superior interobserver agreements and unique new views of the LV.     

Repetitive dobutamine stress echocardiography for the prediction of anthracycline cardiotoxicity.

AIMS: To evaluate whether repetitive assessment of systolic and diastolic cardiac function by dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) can predict anthracycline cardiotoxicity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (age, 57+/-13 years, 22 male) were studied before chemotherapy, with follow-ups during, at the end, and 6 months after chemotherapy. Left ventricular (LV) function was assessed by two-dimensional (2D) echocardiographic wall motion score index (WMSI) and by Doppler echocardiography of mitral valve inflow at rest and during DSE. Radionuclide ventriculography was used as an independent reference for ejection fraction (EF). A reduction of EF >/=5% occurred in 17 patients (group A) at the last follow-up. Patients without decreased EF comprised group B. Early/late diastolic velocity of mitral inflow (E/A ratio) at rest was lower in group A (0.91+/-0.2 vs 1.28+/-0.3, P<0.001), and it was an independent predictor of cardiotoxicity (adjusted for baseline patient characteristics and parameters of systolic and diastolic function). At follow-up, WMSI at rest paralleled radionuclide EF. Contractile reserve at low-dose DSE was preserved in group A. CONCLUSIONS: WMSI measured by 2D echocardiography parallels radionuclide EF at follow-up. Assessment of contractile reserve has no incremental value for the early detection of cardiotoxicity. A baseline abnormal E/A ratio is an independent predictor of anthracycline cardiotoxicity.     

Recent advances in dobutamine stress echocardiography

Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is a reliable cardiac risk stratifier that has widespread applicability because of its clinical accuracy and cost effectiveness. Dobutamine has positive inotropic and chronotropic effects and is commonly used in patients who cannot exercise or achieve an adequate heart rate response with exercise. Recently available long-term results from several independent clinical trials, combined with enhancements in image quality, have improved the ability to detect significant coronary artery disease and determine myocardial viability. Dobutamine stress echocardiography has an excellent safety profile with clinical results superior to regular exercise electrocardiography and comparable with exercise echocardiography and radionucleotide perfusion stress imaging. Low-dose dobutamine response can accurately predict dysfunctional yet viable myocardial regions that may improve with revascularization. Clinical studies are now available refining the common use of DSE preoperatively in female patients with valvular disease, as well as in the emergency department. Dobutamine stress echocardiography does have some limitations in discriminating particular regions of ischemia when multiple ventricular segments are involved and when the imaging is suboptimal. It can be applied using minimal additional resources in an otherwise functioning echocardiography laboratory and, with appropriate training, can result in clinical results comparable with those of large-scale multicenter trials. Ongoing improvements in technology and the development of new reagents such as myocardial contrast agents hold promise for further advancement in the near future.     

Real-time dobutamine stress myocardial perfusion echocardiography predicts outcome in the elderly.

AIMS: Although there is an increasing number of studies showing the value of perfusion imaging with real-time contrast echocardiography (RTCE) for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD), no data exist regarding the value of this technique for detecting CAD and predicting outcome in the elderly. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined the outcome of 399 patients > or =70 years old who underwent dobutamine stress RTCE for known or suspected CAD. Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) was performed using low mechanical index pulse sequence schemes following intravenous small bolus injections of ultrasound contrast. Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) was performed within 1 month of the stress test in 60 patients. Events were defined as cardiac death or non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI). Sensitivity of MPI for detecting CAD by QCA was 94% [confidence interval (CI) 91-99], specificity was 67% (CI 36-74), and accuracy was 90% (CI 82-95). During a median follow-up of 21 months, 46 events occurred (31 cardiac deaths, 15 non-fatal MI). Univariate predictors of outcome were diuretic use (P = 0.03), abnormal stress wall motion (P < 0.0001), and abnormal stress MPI (P < 0.0001). Abnormal stress MPI, however, was the most significant predictor of outcome (chi(2) 7.5; P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Myocardial perfusion analysis during dobutamine stress RTCE provides incremental predictive value in determining the outcome of elderly patients being evaluated for the presence of CAD.     

Atrial fibrillation in dobutamine stress echocardiography

OBJECTIVES: To describe the incidence of atrial fibrillation induced by dobutamine stress echocardiography and characterize patients at risk of developing atrial fibrillation, by constructing a simple validated risk score index. DESIGN: An observational study using prospectively collected data. METHODS: 3800 consecutive patients in sinus rhythm undergoing dobutamine stress echocardiography were randomly divided to a case (2/3) and test group (1/3). Associations of predetermined demographic, clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic variables were calculated in patients with and without atrial fibrillation induced by dobutamine stress echocardiography in the case group. Logistic regression analysis determined significant independent risk predictors, a scoring index was constructed and validated on the test group. RESULTS: There was a 2% incidence of dobutamine stress echocardiography-induced atrial fibrillation in the study population. Risk predictors of atrial fibrillation included: a history of atrial fibrillation (2 points), increased left atrial diameter, right bundle branch block, decreased rest heart rate and hypertension (1 point each). The case subgroup low-risk patients (score 0-2) had a 1% risk, moderate-risk patients (score 3) a 2.7% and high-risk patients (score 4-6) a 14.5% risk of developing atrial fibrillation during dobutamine stress echocardiography. The rates in the test subgroup were 1%, 3.8% and 15.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Atrial fibrillation during dobutamine stress echocardiography is not common, the risk of developing atrial fibrillation during dobutamine stress echocardiography can be predicted by using a simple risk score system comprised of clinical, electrocardiographic and rest echocardiographic variables, which may be of help when planning a dobutamine stress echocardiography test in selected cases.     

Prediction of mortality using dobutamine echocardiography.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to find out whether dobutamine echocardiography (DbE) could provide independent prediction of total and cardiac mortality, incremental to clinical and angiographic variables. BACKGROUND: Existing outcome studies with DbE have examined composite end points, rather than death, over a relatively short follow-up. Clinical and stress data were collected in 3,156 patients (age 63 +/- 12 years, 1,801 men) undergoing DbE. Significant stenoses (>50% diameter) were identified in 70% of 1,073 patients undergoing coronary angiography. Total and cardiac mortality were identified over nine years of follow-up (mean 3.8 +/- 1.9). Cox models were used to analyze the effect of ischemia and other variables, independent of other determinants of mortality. RESULTS: The dobutamine echocardiogram was abnormal in 1,575 patients (50%). Death occurred in 716 patients (23%), 259 of whom (8%) were thought to have died from cardiac causes. Patients with normal DbE had a total mortality of 8% per year and a cardiac mortality of 1% per year over the first four years of follow-up. Ischemia and the extent of abnormal wall motion were independent predictors of cardiac death, together with age and heart failure. In sequential Cox models, the predictive power of clinical data alone (model chi-square 115) was strengthened by adding the resting left ventricular function (model chi-square 138) and the results of DbE (model chi-square 181). In the subgroup undergoing coronary angiography, the power of the model was increased to a minor degree by the addition of coronary anatomy data. CONCLUSIONS: Dobutamine echocardiography is an independent predictor of death, incremental to other data. While a normal dobutamine echocardiogram predicts low risk of cardiac death (on the order of 1% per year), this risk increases with the extent of abnormal wall motion at rest and stress.     

二维三维超声心动图多巴酚丁胺负荷试验评价老年人缺血性心脏病的对比研究

目的　对比实时三维经胸超声心动图多巴酚丁胺负荷试验(DSE)和二维超声心动图DSE检查结果,探讨其对老年人缺血性心脏病诊断的可行性和有效性。　方法　对 83 例 60~86 岁心机梗死患者,于二维 DSE采像结束后30 s 内分别进行三维 DSE采像。　结果　二维、三维 DSE检查结果有良好的相关性(静息状态下相关系数:r=0.82, 一致性系数:Kappa=0 56;负荷状态 r=0 81, Kappa=0. 62)。83例左室室壁运动积分指标(WMSI),2 种检查方法差异无统计学意义(P>0 05)。静息状态下,受检者间及受检者自身前后检测结果比较,其相关性二维 DSE高于三维 DSE;在负荷状态下三维DSE高于二维DSE。随机选择40名患者,二维 DSE扫描时间为(63 .1±21 .2)s,三维DSE为(26 .5±12 .1)s,二者比较差异有统计学意义 (P<0 .01)。　结论　对老年人实时三维DSE 是可行的,其优点有:采像时间短、全面观察左室运动节段、负荷状态下较好的观察者间吻合率及较高单位时间内的工作效率。     

Hemodynamic assessment of Perceval sutureless bioprosthesis by dobutamine stress echocardiography

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic performance of a sutureless bioprosthesis under high workload at mid‐term follow‐up.

Methods

Thirty‐two patients who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement with a Perceval sutureless bioprosthesis with a minimum follow‐up of 1 year were enrolled in this study. S size prosthesis was deployed in 10 patients (31.3%), M size in 9 (28.1%), L size in 8 (25%) and XL size in 5 (15.6%). Effective orifice area (EOA), EOA index (EOAi), and transvalvular gradients were assessed at rest and during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) a median of 19.5 months after surgery.

Results

Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) significantly increased heart rate, stroke volume, ejection fraction, and transvalvular gradients (peak gradient, 24.0 ± 7.6 vs 38.7 ± 13.6 mm Hg, P < .001; mean gradient, 12.6 ± 4.2 vs 19.8 ± 8.3, P < .001). When compared to baseline, estimated valve areas significantly increased at follow‐up (EOA, 1.48 ± 0.46 vs 2.06 ± 0.67, P < .001; EOAi, 0.84 ± 0.26 vs 1.17 ± 0.37, P < .001). Mean percentage increase in EOAi was 40.3% ± 28.0%. S size prostheses had the highest increase in EOA1, but the difference was not significant (S 46.0% ± 27.5% vs M 45.4% ± 34.5% vs L 32.7% ± 26.4% vs XL 32.1% ± 20.5%, P = .66). Severe patient‐prosthesis mismatch (EOAi ≤ 0.65 cm²/m²) was present at rest in 8 patients (25%), but only in one patient (3.1%) during DSE.

Conclusions

The Perceval sutureless bioprosthesis demonstrated good hemodynamics at rest and under high workload. The significant increase in EOAi during DSE suggests the potential advantages of Perceval sutureless bioprostheses in case of small aortic annulus or when patient‐prosthesis mismatch is anticipated.     

Functional and prognostic significance of silent ischemia during dobutamine stress echocardiography in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: The functional and prognostic significance of silent ischemia relative to symptomatic ischemia during non-invasive testing remains controversial. DESIGN: The aim of this prospective study was to assess whether the presence of dobutamine-induced silent ischemia was associated with the amount of myocardial ischemic burden and to determine the prognostic significance of painless ischemia in elderly people with stable coronary artery disease. METHODS: A cohort of 289 patients > or =70 years of age with positive dobutamine stress echocardiography result and significant coronary artery disease proven by coronary arteriography, were followed up during a 35 +/- 13 month period for the development of cardiac events. RESULTS: The prevalence of silent ischemia during dobutamine infusion was 63%. Patients with painful ischemia were more likely to have lower peak heart rate (P < 0.01) and showed ST segment depression more frequently during the dobutamine stress test than did patients with painless ischemia (52 versus 31%, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the patients with and without angina according to wall motion score index at rest (1.35 +/- 0.29 versus 1.32 +/- 0.37) and at peak stress (1.61 +/- 0.35 versus 1.58 +/- 0.44), stress-rest wall motion index difference (0.27 +/- 0.09 versus 0.25 +/- 0.08), the presence of dyskinesia at peak stress (36 versus 31%), the number of segments with regional > or =2 point change from rest to peak stress (38 versus 29%) and the decrease of left ventricular end systolic volume at peak stress (89 versus 86%). During the follow-up period a total of 269 patients developed 153 (57%) cardiac events: 15 cardiac deaths, 19 non-fatal myocardial infarctions, 119 episodes of unstable angina. No significant difference in cardiac mortality and in total cardiac event rate was observed between patients with or without angina (6 versus 5% and 60 versus 55%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that the magnitude of myocardial dysfunction assessed by dobutamine stress echocardiography is comparable in elderly patients with or without anginal chest pain. The presence of painful ischemia is not accompanied by an increased risk for subsequent cardiac events in this cohort of patients.     

Side effects of high-dose dobutamine are not prevented by normal saline infusion in dobutamine stress echocardiography

High-dose dobutamine used in dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) has hemodynamically based side effects due to a variable combination of β1 (inotropic) and β2 (vasodilator) effects. Of concern is the development of an "empty ventricle syndrome" associated with intracavitary or outflow tract obstruction and resultant symptomatic hypotension. This study was undertaken to determine whether the concurrent administration of normal saline (N/S) would decrease symptoms, limit the development of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction and hypotension by maintaining left ventricular volume. One hundred patients, mean age 66 years ± 12, presenting for a DSE were randomized into two groups. One group (n = 50) received N/S at a rate of 800 ml/hour during the test, the second group received dobutamine alone. Patients were instructed to report and quantify symptoms on a scale of 1 to 10. Echocardiographic measurements of end systolic volume (ESV) and LVOT gradients were taken prior to dobutamine and at peak dose. There was no difference in symptom scores (3.5 ± 5.1(N/S) vs. 3.0 ± 4.7, P = 0.6), change in systolic blood pressure (BP) (−0.74 mmHg ± 33 (N/S) vs. −0.89 ± 35, P = 0.9) maximum LVOT gradient at peak (16.4 mmHg ± 16.1 (N/S) vs. 13.9 mmHg ± 9, P = 0.4), or ESV at peak (17.9 mL ± 13.4 (N/S) vs. 15.5 ml ± 10.6, P = 0.37). Furthermore, there was no difference in the number of patients (10/50 (20%) in both groups) who developed a significant LVOT gradient, defined as greater than 20 mmHg at peak dose. Despite the sound theoretical basis of N/S infusion to protect against "empty ventricle syndrome" during DSE this randomized trial does not demonstrate any symptomatic or hemodynamic benefit .     

Cardiac rupture during contrast-enhanced dobutamine stress echocardiography

Dobutamine stress echocardiography is widely used after myocardial infarction. This technique is safe and severe adverse reactions are uncommon. We report one case of cardiac rupture during contrast-enhanced dobutamine stress echocardiography.