Arm-crank ergometry: a new method for the evaluation of coronary artery disease

We have developed an electrocardiographic stress test to evaluate coronary heart disease using an arm-crank device (modified bicycle ergometer) in patients unable to perform leg exercise. With an initial work load of 200 kg-m/min at 40 revolutions/min for 3 minutes, followed by 100 kg-m/min increments every 3 minutes to a maximum of 700 kg-m/min at the same speed, a linear relation between the increase in heart rate and work load was observed. Twenty-one patients underwent both conventional treadmill exercise (modified Bruce protocol) and arm-crank exercise on separate days. Peak heart rate was slightly slower with arm-crank exercise (81 ± 4 standard error] vs. 85 ± 3 percent of maximal predicted heart rate for age, P < 0.02) but peak systolic blood pressure and heart rate-systolic blood pressure product (double product) did not differ significantly (157 ± 7 vs. 154 ± 6 mm Hg, P > 0.5) and (22.0 ± 1.2 vs. 22.5 ± 1.2 × 10³, P > 0.1). Ten patients with documented coronary artery disease, including 7 with angina pectoris, had an ischemie S-T segment response (0.08 second depression greater than 1 mm) by both methods and 10 patients (7 with previous myocardial infarction and 3 with normal coronary arteriograms) had negative results by both techniques. One patient with normal coronary arteriograms had a negative arm-crank test and a positive treadmill test. In 26 patients unable to perform leg exercise the mean peak heart rate, systolic blood pressure and double product with arm-crank exercise were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from those achieved by the ambulatory patients (73.2 ± 1.9 vs. 81.0 ± 4.0 percent, 167 ± 8 vs. 157 ± 7 mm Hg and 22.4 ± 1.2 vs. 22.0 ± 1.4 × 10³, respectively). Six of 26 patients unable to perform leg exercise had a positive arm-crank test. Four of these six patients had angina pectoris and three had a previous myocardial infarction. We conclude that arm-crank exercise is comparable to treadmill exercise and is a reliable alternative method for the evaluation of suspected coronary artery disease in patients unable to perform leg exercise.