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Limited coronary flow reserve after dipyridamole in patients with ergonovine-induced coronary vasoconstriction.

Patients with anginal chest pain despite angiographically normal coronary arteries and left ventricles may have abnormalities of coronary flow reserve. Twenty-five patients were found to have limited flow reserve during rapid atrial pacing after administration of 0.15 to 0.30 mg iv ergonovine, associated with precipitation of chest pain and hemodynamic and metabolic evidence of myocardial ischemia. No significant narrowing occurred in epicardial coronary artery luminal diameter. An additional 15 patients had no chest pain during pacing; because they developed significantly higher great cardiac vein flow and lower coronary resistance they were considered to have normal vasodilator reserve. After administration of dipyridamole (0.5 to 0.75 mg/kg iv), the lowest absolute levels to which coronary resistance fell (0.79 +/- 0.23 vs 0.47 +/- 0.12 mm Hg X min/ml; p less than .001) and the maximal absolute levels to which great cardiac vein flow rose (134 +/- 34 vs 202 +/- 45 ml/min; p less than .001) were impaired in the 25 patients with ergonovine-induced flow limitation compared with the 15 patients without flow limitation after ergonovine. In addition, 18 of the 25 patients with limited flow reserve after dipyridamole experienced chest pain despite an increase in coronary flow. In these patients, dipyridamole-induced increased flow across small prearteriolar coronary arteries, which were narrowed because of abnormal tonus or sensitivity to vasoconstrictor stimuli, could have resulted in a transmural redistribution of blood flow away from the subendocardium, precipitating subendocardial ischemia. These studies suggest that patients with anginal chest pain despite normal epicardial coronary arteries may have exaggerated coronary responses to vasoconstrictor stimuli, which can result in myocardial ischemia during stress, as well as attenuated responses to coronary vasodilator stimuli.

Adult↗

Aspirin and dipyridamole in the prevention of acute coronary thrombosis complicating coronary angioplasty.

To test the hypothesis that pretreatment with adequate antiplatelet therapy reduces the likelihood of acute coronary thrombosis during routine percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), we reviewed, blinded to treatment group, the films and records of 300 consecutive initially successful PTCAs. Films before PTCA, immediately after, and at least 30 min after the last balloon inflation were assessed for the presence of any thrombus at the PTCA site. We excluded 37 patients who received streptokinase before PTCA or who had 100% occlusion or thrombus on pre-PTCA films. New thrombi were classified as clinically significant (defined as causing 100% occlusion or requiring emergency surgery or streptokinase therapy) or as not significant (not causing an acute problem or requiring intervention). Patients were classified into three groups, based on the type and extent of antiplatelet therapy received. Group 1 (no aspirin, n = 121) consisted of patients who did not receive aspirin either before admission or in hospital before PTCA (with or without dipyridamole). Group 2 (standard treatment, n = 110) received aspirin with or without dipyridamole but did not receive both drugs before admission and in hospital before PTCA. Group 3 (maximal treatment, n = 32) received both aspirin and dipyridamole before admission and in hospital before PTCA. New thrombi were detected at 39 (14.8%) PTCA sites, of which 15 (5.7% of all PTCA sites) were considered clinically significant. Group 1 had the highest incidence of both thrombus (21.5%) and clinically significant thrombus (10.7%). A reduction was seen in group 2 in thrombus (11.8%; p = .07) and in clinically significant thrombus (1.8%; p = .005). Group 3 had no thrombus (p = .001) and no clinically significant thrombus (p = .04). In addition to inadequate pretreatment with antiplatelet therapy, univariate analyses demonstrated several other risk factors for thrombus: higher percent diameter stenosis before PTCA (p less than .008), higher platelet count (p = .013), and current smoking (p = .03). Only higher platelet count (p less than .001) and inadequate pretreatment (p = .001) were associated with clinically significant thrombus. Stepwise logistic regression analysis demonstrated that for thrombus, the lack of effective antiplatelet therapy was the most discriminatory variable, followed by current smoking, higher percent diameter stenosis, and dissection. For clinically significant thrombus, once the lack of pretreatment with effective antiplatelet therapy was considered, no other factors added significant discriminatory information.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗

Myocardial blood flow response to pacing tachycardia and to dipyridamole infusion in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy without overt heart failure. A quantitative assessment by positron emission tomography.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial blood flow (MBF) impairment has been documented in advanced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in which hemodynamic factors, secondary to severe ventricular dysfunction, may limit myocardial perfusion. To assess whether MBF impairment in DCM may also be present independent of hemodynamic factors, the present study was designed to quantify myocardial perfusion in patients with mild disease without overt heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: Absolute regional MBF (milliliters per minute per gram) was measured by positron emission tomography and 13N-ammonia in resting conditions, during pacing-induced tachycardia, and after dipyridamole infusion (0.56 mg/kg over 4 minutes) in 22 DCM patients and in 13 healthy subjects. Patients were in New York Heart Association functional class I-II and showed depressed left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction by radionuclide angiography (35 +/- 8%; range, 21% to 48%), normal coronary angiography, and normal or moderately increased LV end-diastolic pressure (9.2 +/- 5.5 mm Hg; range, 2 to 20 mm Hg). There were no differences in arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and rate-pressure product between patients and control subjects in the three study conditions. Compared with control subjects, DCM patients had lower mean MBF at rest (0.80 +/- 0.25 versus 1.08 +/- 0.20 mL.min-1.g-1, P < .01), during atrial pacing tachycardia (1.21 +/- 0.59 versus 2.03 +/- 0.64 mL.min-1.g-1, P < .01), and after dipyridamole infusion (1.91 +/- 0.76 versus 3.78 +/- 0.86 mL.min-1.g-1, P < .01). LV MBF values were related to baseline LV end-diastolic pressure at rest (r = -.57, P < .01) and during pacing (r = -.67, P < .01) but not after dipyridamole infusion (r = .19, P = .40). Five patients had LV end-diastolic pressure > 12 mm Hg; in 4, myocardial perfusion was severely depressed both at baseline and in response to stress. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with DCM without overt heart failure, myocardial perfusion is impaired both at rest and in response to vasodilating stimuli. The abnormalities in vasodilating capability can be present despite normal hemodynamics; progression of the disease is associated with more depressed myocardial perfusion.

Adult↗

Dipyridamole stress echocardiography for risk stratification in hypertensive patients with chest pain.

BACKGROUND: The noninvasive prognostic assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) in hypertensive patients represents an unresolved task to date. In this study, we investigated the value of dipyridamole stress echocardiography in risk stratification of hypertensive patients with chest pain and unknown CAD. METHODS AND RESULTS: Dipyridamole stress echocardiography was performed in 257 hypertensives (110 men; age, 63+/-9 years) complaining of chest pain and without a history of CAD. No major complications occurred. Four tests were interrupted prematurely because of side effects, with 98. 4% feasibility of test. A positive echocardiographic response was found in 72 patients (27 during the low-dose [</=0.56 mg/kg] and 45 during the high-dose [>0.56 mg/kg]). During the follow-up (32+/-18 months), 27 cardiac events occurred: 3 deaths, 8 infarctions, and 16 cases of unstable angina. Moreover, 27 patients underwent coronary revascularization. At multivariate analysis, the positive echocardiographic result (OR, 5.5; 95% CI, 1.4 to 16.6) was the only predictor of hard cardiac events (death, infarction). Considering spontaneous cardiac events (death, infarction, and unstable angina) as end points, the positive echocardiographic result (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.8 to 9.6) and family history of CAD (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.5 to 6. 9) were independently associated with prognosis. The 3-year survival rates for the negative and the positive populations were, respectively, 97% and 87% (P=0.0019) considering hard cardiac events and 96% and 74% (P=0.0000) considering spontaneous cardiac events. CONCLUSIONS: Dipyridamole stress echocardiography is safe, highly feasible, and effective in risk stratification of hypertensives with chest pain and unknown CAD. At present, it represents an attractive option for prognostic assessment of this clinically defined population.

Analysis of Variance↗

Myocardial kinetics of thallium-201 after dipyridamole infusion in normal canine myocardium and in myocardium distal to a stenosis.

The purpose of the present study was to define myocardial and blood thallium-201 (Tl-201) kinetics after infusion of dipyridamole in normal canine myocardium and in myocardium distal to a coronary artery stenosis. Miniature radiation detector probes were implanted in the left ventricle in 39 open-chest dogs. A balloon constrictor was placed around the proximal left circumflex coronary artery. Electromagnetic flow probes were positioned proximally around both the left circumflex and left anterior descending coronary arteries. In five control dogs (group 1) the balloon occluder was not inflated; in 12 dogs (group 2) a mild stenosis was created such that resting flow was not reduced, yet the hyperemic response after 10 s of total occlusion was partially attenuated; in nine dogs (group 3) a moderate stenosis was created such that resting flow was not reduced, yet the hyperemic response was completely eliminated; and in 13 dogs (group 4) a severe stenosis was created such that resting flow was reduced. After intravenous dipyridamole (0.08 mg/kg . min-1 x 4 min), 1.5 mCi Tl-201 was injected intravenously and probe counts were collected continuously for 4 h. The mean 4-h fractional myocardial Tl-201 clearance for nonstenotic zones was 0.35, 0.27 for group 2 stenotic zones, 0.19 for group 3 stenotic zones, and 0.05 for group 4 stenotic zones (P less than 0.0001). After reaching peak activity, myocardial Tl-201 activity cleared biexponentially with a final decay constant lambda 2 = 0.0017 +/- 0.0001 min-1 (SE) for nonstenotic zones, 0.0011 +/- 0.0001 min-1 for group 2 stenotic zones, and 0.0006 +/- 0.0001 min-1 for group 3 stenotic zones (P less than 0.01). Group 4 stenotic zone Tl-201 clearances were negligible (decay constant essentially zero). Blood Tl-201 activity decayed triexponentially with a final blood lambda 3 = 0.0018 +/- 0.0001 min-1, which was almost identical to the final myocardial lambda 2 decay constant. Thus, the rate of myocardial Tl-201 clearance can distinguish between coronary stenoses of graded hemodynamic severity. These results may be applicable to quantitative techniques for determining myocardial Tl-201 clearance rates on serial clinical images after dipyridamole administration.

Animals↗

Platelet hyperaggregability, blood prostacyclin and dipyridamole.

This study demonstrates the presence of PGI2 in blood and its influence on platelet retention tests, possibly by the intermediate of a releasing system in the columns, which is followed by a proximate recuperation on the erythrocyte sites after the passage. The presence of prostacyclin on the erythrocyte sites seems to depend upon the red cell deformability in relation to the good condition of their erythrocyte ATP reserve. The load of the erythrocyte sites increases with the daily dose of dipyridamole. The maximum load of the sites appears to be reached with a daily dose of dipyridamole 450 mg. Approximately 10% of the atherosclerosis patients who have been treated by dipyridamole keep their platelet hyperaggregability and their abnormally lowered prostacyclin level.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Coronary angiography of Kawasaki disease with the coronary vasodilator dipyridamole: assessment of distensibility of affected coronary arterial wall.

The authors evaluated the distensibility of the coronary arterial wall by pharmacoangiography with intravenous administration of dipyridamole in 38 patients with Kawasaki disease. In the acute stage of the illness, the coronary arteries were evaluated for aneurysms by two-dimensional echocardiography. After the acute stage of the illness, selective coronary cineangiographies were performed by Seldinger's method under general anesthesia before and after intravenous administration of 0.6 mg/kg of dipyridamole for four minutes. The calibers of aneurysms and normal appearing segments of coronary arteries, at most 7 segments in 1 patient, were measured before and after dipyridamole administration on the high-quality cineangioanalyzer and percentages of coronary arterial dilatation were calculated. In 14 cases without evidence of coronary arterial lesions, the distensibility was 10.2 +/- 4.7% (mean +/- SD). The distensibility of 32 aneurysms in 16 cases was 0.6 +/- 1.1% and was significantly decreased (p less than 0.001). In 24 cases with coronary arterial lesions, aneurysms, stenosis, or obstruction, the distensibility of normal appearing segments of coronary arteries was 4.5 +/- 4.9% and was significantly decreased (p less than 0.001). This method is useful in evaluating distensibility and appears to be effective in detecting pathologic changes of the coronary arterial wall, even if it appears normal in shape. The patient with previously diseased coronary arteries should be kept under careful longterm surveillance.

Acute Disease↗

Reocclusion prophylaxis with dipyridamole combined with acetylsalicylic acid following PTA.

After primary successful PTA, 199 patients were randomized into one of three treatment groups, namely, placebo or a combination of 75 mg dipyridamole with either 330 mg (high dose) or 100 mg (low dose) acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) tid. The duration of treatment was six months. Of the 199 patients admitted to the study, 156 completed the six-month trial period. Not all patients had a second angiogram, and in these cases clinical findings were used in the evaluation. Evaluation of the combined angiographic and clinical results showed improvement or no deterioration in 37% of patients in the placebo group compared with 49% in the low-dose and 61% in the high-dose ASA groups respectively. The only statistically significant difference observed was between the placebo group and the group treated with dipyridamole and high-dose ASA (p = 0.01). This difference remained statistically significant at p = 0.039 if only the angiographic findings were considered for group comparison. It cannot, however, be concluded from this study that 75 mg dipyridamole in combination with 100 mg ASA tid is more effective in preventing reocclusion after PTA than in combination with 330 mg ASA tid.

Adult↗

Platelet deposition on human atherosclerotic lesions is decreased by low-dose aspirin in combination with dipyridamole.

Eighteen patients with ischaemic peripheral vascular disease were treated for a 5-week period with either 20 mg aspirin daily, 75 mg dipyridamole three times daily or a combination of these two treatments. Before and after 4 weeks' treatment autologous platelet labelling with 111In was carried out and sites of active vascular platelet uptake monitored, and platelet half-life measured. Neither aspirin nor dipyridamole alone had any effect on platelet uptake or on platelet half-life. The combination of aspirin and dipyridamole resulted in a significant decrease in platelet uptake and a nonsignificant trend towards prolongation of platelet half-life. These findings suggest that this combined therapy may be of benefit in the treatment of atherosclerosis in man.

Aged↗

Selective intraperitoneal biochemical modulation of methotrexate by dipyridamole.

Dipyridamole increases the toxicity of methotrexate in a concentration-dependent manner. We hypothesized that concurrent intraperitoneal administration of both drugs would result in high peritoneal concentrations with much lower plasma concentrations, permitting a selective increase in the activity of methotrexate against intraperitoneal tumors without enhancing systemic toxicity. Initially, 2.16 mg/m2/d methotrexate and 12 mg/m2/d dipyridamole were delivered together as a constant intraperitoneal infusion for 48 hours. With escalation of chemotherapy, eventually 4.32 mg/m2/d methotrexate was administered for 168 hours. Forty-seven courses were administered to 18 patients. The mean peritoneal to plasma concentration ratios of methotrexate and non-protein bound dipyridamole were 71.6 +/- 34.8 and over 2,300, respectively. Chemical peritonitis was the dose-limiting toxicity. Three patients had some evidence of a response (two with decreasing tumor markers, and the third with a reduction in ascites). We conclude that the drug concentrations are in an appropriate range for selective intraperitoneal biochemical modulation of methotrexate, and that it is feasible to expose tumors confined to the peritoneal cavity to these drugs for long periods of time.

Adult↗

Leakage of potassium from red blood cells following gamma ray irradiation in the presence of dipyridamole, trolox, human plasma or mannitol.

Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) is a fatal complication of blood transfusion resulting from the contamination of blood products by leukocytes. In order to prevent this disease, gamma or X-ray irradiation of blood components,which can inactivate leukocytes, is currently used. However, the minimal doses needed to destroy lymphocytes promote the leakage of potassium from red blood cells (RBCs), which can induce other side effects, such as hyperpotassemia and cardiac arrest. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by the irradiation of aqueous solutions may accelerate the leakage through oxidation of the RBC membrane. Here we studied the effect of dipyridamole, Trolox, human plasma or mannitol on the leakage of potassium from RBCs following irradiation. RBC preparations (hematocrit; 30%) containing antioxidants were irradiated at 30 Gy and stored at 4 degrees C for 7 d. The leakage of potassium from the RBCs caused by the irradiation was significantly suppressed by dipyridamole (more than 50 microM), Trolox (more than 5 mM) or human plasma (50%). Mannitol (80 mM) is used to inhibit hemolysis as a constituent of MAP solution, which is a solution used for the storage of RBC products in Japan. Here it was clarified that the leakage of potassium from not only irradiated but also non-irradiated RBCs was unexpectedly promoted by mannitol. The amount of mannitol in MAP solution may have to be reconsidered. The osmotic pressure of the RBC preparation increased in a manner dependent on the concentration of mannitol. The elevated osmotic pressure may promote the leakage. In conclusion, although antioxidants have the potential to suppress the leakage of potassium ascribed to the irradiation, the extent of the suppression (10-20%) by dipyridamole (DPM), Trolox or human plasma seems insufficient for the clinical use of these agents as an additive for MAP solution.

Blood↗

Evaluation and clinical use of early washout ratio of thallium-201 in normal and ischemic myocardium after dipyridamole-induced vasodilation using ring-type emission computed tomography.

Using newly developed ring-type emission computed tomography (SPECT), we investigated the washout ratio (WR) of T1-201 in the myocardium quantitatively with fast dynamic scanning after infusion of dipyridamole (0.57 mg/kg), and assessed the feasibility of early WR as a marker to detect coronary artery disease. Twenty-three patients with and 8 patients without coronary artery disease had serial SPECT images obtained every 5 min for 45 min and at 180 min after dipyridamole and subsequent T1-201 injection. The best appropriate transaxial slice was selected for WR analysis. Most appropriate diagnostic time was 25 min after infusion of T1-201 (WR-25). Normal WR-25 was 7.1 +/- 4.0%, 5.9 +/- 3.1% and 7.1 +/- 2.3% at the septum, anterior and lateral wall, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy to identify coronary stenosis greater than 50% with a usage of abnormal WR-25, defined as WR-25 less than (mean of normals--1SD) in each region of inferest of the left ventricle (LV), were 96%, 100% and 97%, respectively. These results were better than those achieved by visual analysis (sensitivity 78%, specificity 100%, accuracy 84%). In patients with single as well as multivessel disease, the regional accuracy in assessing stenosis of more than 50% in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and left circumflex artery (LCX) by WR-25 was 94% and 83%, respectively, which was significantly better than using visual methods (LAD 72% and LCX 50%; p less than 0.05). Thus, evaluation of early washout ratios (WR-25) after dipyridamole injection is a valuable method to increase sensitivity in assessing regional myocardial perfusion abnormality and is helpful in detection of ischemic heart disease, even with multivessel disease.

Adult↗

Prognostic value of dipyridamole thallium scintigraphy in patients with coronary artery disease treated medically.

To evaluate the prognosis of patients with coronary artery disease treated medically using dipyridamole thallium scintigraphy, 277 consecutive patients were followed prospectively. During 2.8 +/- 1.8 years of follow-up, 21 patients experienced nonfatal myocardial infarction or died from cardiac causes. Stepwise discriminant analysis using clinical and angiographic variables revealed that the combination of ejection fraction, number of diseased vessels, previous myocardial infarction and left ventricular asynergic score was most statistically significant (chi-square = 24, p = 0.0001) in predicting events. After including scintigraphic findings, the analysis revealed that the combination of negative washout rate, ejection fraction, ST depression during dipyridamole loading, previous myocardial infarction, coronary artery narrowing of > 90%, left ventricular asynergic score and number of diseased vessels (chi-square = 39, p < 0.0001) was the best predictor of events. These results indicate that the addition of dipyridamole thallium scintigraphic data to established angiographic markers can help better identify patients with coronary artery disease who are at high risk of cardiac events.

Adult↗

Aspirin plus either dipyridamole or ticlopidine is effective in preventing recurrent myocardial infarction. Secondary Prevention Group.

The efficacy of combining antiplatelet agents with low doses of aspirin to prevent cardiac events in patients with myocardial infarction was examined. A total of 1,083 patients with prior myocardial infarction were randomly divided into those who were (618) and were not (465) treated with antiplatelet agents, and observed for 12.5 +/- 18.5 months. Those treated with antiplatelet agents included 113 patients treated with aspirin (50 mg) plus dipyridamole (150 mg/day), 253 treated with aspirin (50 mg) plus ticlopidine (200 mg/day), and 252 treated with only 1 of the 3 antiplatelet agents. Cardiac events, including fatal or nonfatal recurrent myocardial infarction, death by congestive heart failure, and sudden death, occurred in 34 patients (7.3%) in the nontreatment group and in 19 patients (3.1%; p < 0.01) in the treatment group; odds ratio 0.40, 95% confidence interval 0.23-0.71. There were only 2 cardiac events (1.8%) in the aspirin + dipyridamole group (p < 0.05 vs nontreatment group: odds ratio 0.28: 0.08-1.03), and 5 such events (2.0%) in the aspirin + ticlopidine group (p < 0.01; odds ratio 0.28: 0.11-0.69). Subgroup analysis to exclude differences in the patients' background confirmed the efficacy of these antiplatelet agents. We conclude that combined treatment with low doses of aspirin plus either dipyridamole or ticlopidine is effective in preventing cardiac events in patients who have had prior myocardial infarction.

Aged↗

Stress-induced ST-segment elevation following myocardial infarction and its role in wall motion abnormality, myocardial ischemia and viability: comparison of response to exercise, dobutamine and dipyridamole.

Stress-induced ST-segment elevation following myocardial infarction (MI) has been correlated with myocardial ischemia, viability and wall motion abnormality, but its mechanism is still unclear, so the present study compared ST-segment elevation and wall motion response during exercise, dobutamine and dipyridamole stresses. Twenty-five patients with their first anterior MI underwent exercise, dobutamine and dipyridamole echocardiography on different days 4-6 weeks after MI. Left ventricular wall motion was analyzed using 5-grade/16-segment model and myocardial ischemia was considered as a worsening of the wall motion score index (WMSI) during the stress test; myocardial viability was defined as a reduction of WMSI during low dose dobutamine. Dyskinesis formation was defined by visual analysis as akinesis that became dyskinetic or if the dyskinesis worsened. Both exercise and dobutamine induced ST-segment elevation, but dipyridamole did not. There was no significant difference in the degree of ST-segment elevation between the patients with and without myocardial ischemia or dyskinesis formation. Exercise induced a higher ST-segment elevation in patients with myocardial viability than those without (0.17+/-0.09 mV vs 0.09+/-0.07 mV, p<0.05). Exercise-induced ST-segment elevations correlated with dobutamine-induced ST-segment elevations (p<0.01), changes in heart rate (p<0.05) and systolic blood pressure (p<0.05). In conclusions, stress-induced ST-segment elevation does not correlate with either myocardial ischemia or stress-induced dyskinesis, but may be associated with myocardial viability.

Cardiotonic Agents↗

Prolonged myocardial ischemia after intravenous dipyridamole thallium imaging.

Intravenous dipyridamole thallium imaging is reported to be a safe test with minimal side effects. It has been proposed by some that the test simply dilates the coronary vessels without actually producing myocardial ischemia. In this report, we describe a patient who, following intravenous dipyridamole thallium imaging, developed severe myocardial ischemia which persisted for 90 minutes, requiring emergency coronary angioplasty to alleviate the ischemic insult. Sequential electrocardiograms and cardiac isoenzyme levels following coronary angioplasty were within normal limits. Thus, severe myocardial ischemia following intravenous dipyridamole testing can occur and emphasizes the importance of careful monitoring of these patients, particularly when the pretest risk of coronary disease is high.

Cardiomyopathies↗

Severe bronchospasm followed by respiratory arrest during thallium-dipyridamole imaging.

We describe the occurrence of sudden severe bronchospasm and respiratory arrest following dipyridamole infusion in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease predominantly of the emphysematous type. The severe reaction was unexpected because the patient had tolerated well withdrawal of aminophylline derivatives for 48 hours and was receiving chronic prednisone 20 mg qd. Although the diagnostic and prognostic gains from dipyridamole imaging far outweigh the small risk associated with the test, patients with chronic pulmonary obstructive disease must be closely monitored during thallium-dipyridamole imaging.

Aged↗

Noninvasive assessment of left ventricular diastolic filling in coronary artery disease by Doppler dipyridamole-stress testing.

To evaluate left ventricular diastolic function during dipyridamole-provoked myocardial ischemia, transmitral flow was studied in 73 patients with coronary artery disease and 8 normal subjects using pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Coronary vasodilating agents like dipyridamole can provoke myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease. The peak flow velocity of left ventricular rapid filling (R), that of atrial contraction (A) and the ratio of A to R (A/R) in each cardiac cycle were measured. The rapid filling phase was divided into two subphases at the point of R. The integral of the two subphases and atrial contraction were computed and designated IR1, IR2 and IA. The time intervals of the two subphases of rapid filling were designated TR1 and TR2. Of the 73 patients with coronary artery disease, 41 patients developed ischemia (positive responder = PR) and 32 patients did not (negative responder = NR) after dipyridamole infusion. In PR, A/R increased (p less than 0.05), IR2 decreased (p less than 0.01) and TR2 shortened (p less than 0.01) significantly. In NR and normal subjects, these indices remained unchanged. We observed mitral regurgitation (MR) in 13 PR patients during acute myocardial ischemia. A/R increased in patients without MR but A/R remained unchanged in patients with MR. These results suggest that in acute myocardial ischemia, changes in Doppler indices (A/R, IR2 and TR2) reflect a left ventricular diastolic abnormality, and that the masking of the diastolic abnormality was ascribed to the presence of MR.

Blood Flow Velocity↗