Prevention of malocclusion and the importance of early diagnosis in the Italian young population.

AIM: Malocclusion is an alteration of the normal relationships between skeletal, muscle and dental structures that can lead to impaired functionality as well as aesthetic alteration of the stomatognathic system. Functional alteration can affect various aspects, ranging from chewing ability to respiratory disorders. Paediatricians and dentists are called to prevent and diagnose these conditions as early as possible in order to preserve the patient's health. The purpose of this research is to study the incidence of malocclusion and its relationship with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) in a young population. Also, the role of paediatricians and dentists in prevention and early diagnosis of this condition was evaluated METHODS: An anonymous survey was given through Google form to 300 Italian children (139 males and 161 females) from different private dental practices in Italy. No personal information that identifies the individuals was collected, and the data was analysed in aggregate form only. All data was collected and statistically analysed. CONCLUSION: The data highlight the patients' good attitude towards dental check-ups, which help to intercept malocclusions. Unlike the past, the knowledge of the importance of oral health and dental occlusion is high among young patients, parents and paediatricians. This study underlines the role of paediatricians as key players in the prevention of dental health problems.

The Severe Heart Failure Questionnaire: Italian translation and linguistic validation.

INTRODUCTION: The quality of life (QoL) is an important outcome indicator for heart failure management. As the use of a validate questionnaire in a different cultural context can affect data interpretation our main objective is the Italian translation and linguistic validation of the Severe Heart Failure Questionnaire (SHF) and its comparison with the MLHF (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure) Questionnaire. METHODS: The SHF and "The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire" were translated. A consensus involving parallel back-translations was established among a group of cardiologists, psychologists and biostatisticians. SHF and MLHF were both administrated to a sample of 50 patients. RESULTS: The patients' median age was 63 years. Ace inhibitors therapy was administered in 88% of cases and betablockers in 56% of cases. Finally the Italian version of SHF correlates well with MLHF for all domains, except life satisfaction SHF domain. DISCUSSION: The Italian version of the SHF correlates well with MLHF for almost all domains and it represents a valid alternative for quality of life assessment in heart failure patients.

Time course of functional recovery of stunned and hibernating segments after surgical revascularization.

BACKGROUND: Recovery of function is possible in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy when left ventricular dysfunction is caused by stunning or hibernation. It is plausible that recovery of function after revascularization may take a longer time in hibernating myocardium compared with stunned myocardium. Accordingly, the time courses of functional recovery in hibernating and stunned myocardium were compared. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients (n=26) with ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing surgical revascularization were studied; regional perfusion (resting (201)Tl single-photon emission CT), glucose utilization ((18)F-2-deoxyglucose single-photon emission CT), and contractile function (2D echocardiography) were assessed before revascularization. Dysfunctional segments with normal perfusion/glucose utilization were considered to be stunned, and dysfunctional segments with reduced perfusion/preserved glucose utilization were considered to be hibernating. Contractile function was reevaluated 3 months (early) and 14 months (late) after revascularization. Of the 266 dysfunctional segments, 57 (22%) were stunned, 62 (23%) were hibernating, and 147 (55%) were scar tissue. In stunned myocardium, contractile function improved significantly at 3 months, without further improvement at 14 months; 61% of the stunned segments improved at 3 months, and 9% improved at 14 months. In hibernating myocardium, contractile function improved at 3 months, with a further improvement at 14 months; 31% of the hibernating segments improved at 3 months, and 61% showed (additional) recovery at 14 months. CONCLUSIONS: Stunned myocardium is likely to demonstrate early recovery of function, whereas hibernating myocardium may take a longer time to (fully) recover in function after revascularization.

Carboplatin, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide versus cisplatin, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide: a randomized trial in stage III-IV epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

One hundred sixty-four patients with stage III-IV epithelial ovarian carcinoma were randomized to receive cisplatin (CDDP) 50 mg/mq, doxorubicin 45 mg/mq, and cyclophosphamide 600 mg/mq (PAC) or carboplatin 200 mg/mq, doxorubicin 45 mg/m2, and cyclophosphamide 600 mg/mq (CAC). To administer equitoxic doses at each cycle, the drug dosages were adjusted according to the hematologic toxicities experienced after the previous course; 44.7% of CAC and 21.1% of PAC patients required a dosage reduction at the second course (P = .002). Neither CAC nor PAC caused any clinically relevant neuro-nephrotoxicity; however, CDDP was administered with hydration and forced diuresis, while carboplatin was administered by rapid intravenous (IV) infusion. After six cycles, response rates were superimposable: 62.5% and 66.6% for CAC and PAC, respectively; pathologic complete responses (pCRs) were 16.7% for CAC and 23.2% for PAC; among patients with more than 2 cm residual disease, PAC induced more pCRs than CAC (eight of 52 or 15.4% v one of 42 or 2.4%, P = .07). Median survivals and progression-free survivals (PFSs) were 22.6 and 13.2 months for PAC, and 23.1 and 15.5 months for CAC, respectively; these differences are not significant. In conclusion, this trial demonstrates that equitoxic doses of PAC or CAC result in a similar response rate, PFS, and survival.

Methodology, feasibility, safety and diagnostic accuracy of dobutamine stress echocardiography.

Large numbers of patients referred for evaluation of chest pain are unable to perform adequate, diagnostic exercise testing. In these patients, dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) represents an alternative, exercise-independent stress modality. Apart from the approximately 5% of patients with an inadequate acoustic window, 10% of patients referred for this test have nondiagnostic (submaximal negative) test results. Serious side effects during or shortly after DSE are uncommon, with ventricular fibrillation or myocardial infarction occurring in approximately 1 of 2,000 studies. No deaths have been reported. On the basis of a total number of 2,246 patients, reported in 28 studies, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the test for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) were 80%, 84% and 81%, respectively. Mean sensitivities for one-, two- and three-vessel disease were 74%, 86% and 92%, respectively. The sensitivity for detection of disease in the left circumflex coronary artery (55%) was lower, both compared with that for left anterior descending (72%) and right coronary artery disease (76%). The sensitivity of predicting multivessel disease by multiregion echocardiographic abnormalities varied widely, from 8% to 71%. In direct comparisons, DSE was superior to exercise electrocardiography and dipyridamole echocardiography and comparable to exercise echocardiography and radionuclide imaging. DSE is a useful, feasible and safe exercise-independent stress modality for assessing the presence, localization and extent of CAD.

Dobutamine stress myocardial perfusion imaging.

In patients with limited exercise capacity and (relative) contraindications to direct vasodilators such as dipyridamole or adenosine, dobutamine stress nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging (DSMPI) represents an alternative, exercise-independent stress modality for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD). Nondiagnostic test results (absence of reversible perfusion defects with submaximal stress) do occur in approximately 10% of patients. Serious side effects during DSMPI are rare, with no death, myocardial infarction or ventricular fibrillation reported in three DSMPI safety reports for a total of 2,574 patients. On the basis of a total number of 1,014 patients reported in 20 studies, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the test for the detection of CAD were 88%, 74% and 84%, respectively. Mean sensitivities for one-, two- and three-vessel disease were 84%, 95% and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity for detection of left circumflex CAD (50%) was lower, compared with that for left anterior descending CAD (68%) and right CAD (88%). The sensitivity of predicting multivessel disease by multiregion perfusion abnormalities varied widely, from 44% to 89%, although specificity was excellent in all studies (89% to 94%). In direct diagnostic comparisons, DSMPI was more sensitive, but less specific, than dobutamine stress echocardiography and comparable with direct vasodilator myocardial perfusion imaging. In the largest prognostic study, patients with a normal DSMPI study had an annual hard event rate less than 1%. An ischemic scan pattern provided independent prognostic value, with a direct relationship between the extent and severity of the perfusion defects and prognosis. In conclusion, DSMPI seems a safe and useful nonexercise-dependent stress modality to detect CAD and assess prognosis.

Which cineangiographically assessed anatomic variable correlates best with functional measurements of stenosis severity? A comparison of quantitative analysis of the coronary cineangiogram with measured coronary flow reserve and exercise/redistribution thallium-201 scintigraphy.

The goal of this investigation was to establish which measured anatomic variable of stenotic coronary lesions correlates best with functional severity. Therefore, 38 patients with single vessel disease underwent coronary cineangiography and exercise/redistribution thallium-201 scintigraphy. The computer-based Cardiovascular Angiography Analysis System was used to determine the cross-sectional area at the site of obstruction (OA) and percent diameter stenosis (DS), and to calculate the pressure drop over the stenosis (PD) with use of fluid dynamic equations. Coronary flow reserve was measured radiographically. Myocardial perfusion defects on thallium scintigrams were analyzed quantitatively and by visual interpretation. The relations between coronary flow reserve (CFR) and the three anatomic variables were described by the following equations: 1) CFR = 4.6 - 0.053 DS, r = 0.82; SEE: 0.79, p less than 0.001. 2) CFR = 0.5 + 0.75 OA, r = 0.87; SEE: 0.68, p less than 0.001). 3 CFR = 3.6 - 1.5 log PD, r = 0.90; SEE: 0.62, p less than 0.001. The calculated pressure drop was highly predictive of the thallium scintigraphic results with a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 90%. The calculated pressure drop is a better anatomic variable for assessing the functional importance of a stenosis than is percent diameter stenosis or obstruction area. However, the 95% confidence limits of the relation between pressure drop and coronary flow reserve are wide, making the measurement of coronary flow reserve an indispensable addition to quantitative angiography, especially when determining the functional importance of moderately severe coronary artery lesions.

Postoperative regression of left ventricular dimensions in aortic insufficiency: a long-term echocardiographic study.

The ability of preoperative M-mode echocardiography to predict the clinical course and the decrease in left ventricular size was assessed in 42 patients after uncomplicated valve replacement for isolated aortic insufficiency. During follow-up study, one patient died of chronic heart failure. The New York Heart Association functional class of the 41 survivors improved from 2.4 to 1.2. All patients had a preoperative M-mode echocardiogram. Serial echocardiographic measurements, available in 33 patients, showed a sustained decrease in left ventricular end-diastolic dimension after the first postoperative year from 73 +/- 8 to 57 +/- 9 mm at 6 to 12 months and to 53 +/- 9 mm at 3 years postoperatively (p less than 0.01). Left ventricular cross-sectional area decreased from 31 +/- 8 to 26 +/- 7 cm2 and then to 23 +/- 5 cm2 at the latest follow-up study (p less than 0.01). At 3 years postoperatively, M-mode echocardiograms were available in 37 patients: 24 had a normal left ventricular dimension (group 1), while 13 still had an enlarged left ventricle (group 2). The clinical course in these two groups was similar. The best preoperative predictor of persistent left ventricular enlargement was the end-diastolic dimension (p less than 0.05), whereas fractional shortening and the end-diastolic radius/thickness ratio were not predictive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Accuracy of currently available techniques for prediction of functional recovery after revascularization in patients with left ventricular dysfunction due to chronic coronary artery disease: comparison of pooled data.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the relative merits of the most frequently used techniques for predicting improvement in regional contractile function after coronary revascularization in patients with left ventricular dysfunction due to chronic coronary artery disease. BACKGROUND: Several techniques have been proposed for predicting improvement in regional contractile function after revascularization, including thallium-201 (Tl-201) stress-redistribution-reinjection, Tl-201 rest-redistribution, fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose with positron emission tomography, technetium-99m sestamibi imaging and low dose dobutamine echocardiography (LDDE). METHODS: A systematic review of all reports on prediction of functional recovery after revascularization in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (published between 1980 and March 1997) revealed 37 with sufficient details for calculating the sensitivity and specificity of each imaging modality. From the pooled data, 95% and 99% confidence intervals were also calculated. RESULTS: Sensitivity for predicting regional functional recovery after revascularization was high for all techniques. The specificity of both Tl-201 protocols was significantly lower (p < 0.05) and LDDE significantly higher (p < 0.01) than that of the other techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Pooled analysis of 37 studies showed that although all techniques accurately identify segments with improved contractile function after revascularization, the Tl-201 protocols may overestimate functional recovery. The evidence available thus far indicates that LDDE appears to have the highest predictive accuracy.

Relative value of clinical variables, bicycle ergometry, rest radionuclide ventriculography and 24 hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring at discharge to predict 1 year survival after myocardial infarction.

The relative value of predischarge clinical variables, bicycle ergometry, radionuclide ventriculography and 24 hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring for predicting survival during the first year in 351 hospital survivors of acute myocardial infarction was assessed. Discriminant function analysis showed that in patients eligible for stress testing the extent of blood pressure increase during exercise slightly improved the predictive accuracy beyond that of simple clinical variables (history of previous myocardial infarction, persistent heart failure after the acute phase of infarction and use of digitalis at discharge), whereas radionuclide ventriculography and 24 hour electrocardiographic monitoring did not. The predictive value for mortality was 12% with clinical variables alone and 15% with the stress test added. Radionuclide ventriculography and 24 hour electrocardiographic monitoring were slightly additive to clinical information in the whole group of patients independent of the eligibility for stress testing (predictive value for mortality 24% with clinical variables alone and 26% with radionuclide ejection fraction and 24 hour electrocardiographic monitoring added). It is concluded that the appropriate use of simple clinical variables and stress testing is sufficient for risk stratification in postinfarction patients, whereas radionuclide ventriculography and 24 hour electrocardiographic monitoring should be limited to patients not eligible for stress testing.

Cardiac chronotropic responsiveness to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation is not reduced in the elderly.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated cardiac beta-adrenoceptor responsiveness in the elderly. BACKGROUND: The hypothesis of reduced cardiac beta-adrenoceptor responsiveness in the elderly is based on a smaller increase in heart rate after administration of isoproterenol, a nonselective beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist. By means of dobutamine-stress-echocardiography we were able to retest the hypothesis more accurately because dobutamine is a relatively selective beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist with weak beta 2- and alpha-adrenoceptor stimulant activity that prevents baroreflex-mediated changes in heart rate. METHODS: After administration of stepwise incremental infusions of dobutamine, we measured heart rate and blood pressure responses in 360 patients who had no beta-adrenergic blocking agent therapy and no side effects during the stress test. For each patient we calculated the dose of dobutamine required to increase heart rate by 50% of the maximal heart rate during the highest dose of dobutamine. RESULTS: No relation was found between age and sensitivity to dobutamine (n = 293). Power analysis revealed that this negative finding was not the result of inadequate sample size. In contrast to the prevailing hypothesis, an increased heart rate response to dobutamine was found even in a subgroup of "healthy" elderly subjects (i.e., those without concomitant disease or acute myocardial ischemia, n = 67) that was not related to changes in blood pressure during stress. However, in subjects with acute ischemia (n = 109), smokers (n = 151) or patients with a history of a previous myocardial infarction (n = 148), dobutamine sensitivity was reduced in the elderly despite a diminished change in systolic blood pressure with advanced age during dobutamine infusion. This phenomenon could be explained by a decrease in efferent cardiac baroreflex sensitivity, as has been observed during acute myocardial ischemia. There were no age-related differences in plasma concentrations of dobutamine. CONCLUSIONS: No evidence for reduced beta-adrenoceptor responsiveness to dobutamine was found in "healthy" elderly subjects.

Improved cardiac risk stratification in major vascular surgery with dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to optimize preoperative cardiac risk stratification in a large group of consecutive candidates for vascular surgery by combining clinical risk assessment and semiquantitative dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography. BACKGROUND: Dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography has been used for the prediction of perioperative cardiac risk in a small group of patients scheduled for elective major vascular surgery on the basis of the presence or absence of stress-induced regional left ventricular wall motion abnormalities. METHODS: Clinical risk assessment and dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography were performed in 302 consecutive patients presenting for major vascular surgery. The extent and severity of stress wall motion abnormalities and the heart rate at which they occurred, in addition to the presence of wall motion abnormalities at rest, were assessed. RESULTS: The absence of clinical risk factors (angina, diabetes, Q waves on the electrocardiogram, symptomatic ventricular tachyarrhythmias, age > 70 years) identified a low risk group of 100 patients with a 1% cardiac event rate (unstable angina). Dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiographic findings were positive in 72 patients. Twenty-seven patients had a perioperative cardiac event (cardiac death in 5, nonfatal infarction in 12, unstable angina pectoris in 10); all 27 patients had positive stress test results (positive predictive value 38%, negative predictive value 100%). The semiquantitative assessment of the extent and severity of ischemia did not provide additional prognostic information in patients with positive test results. In contrast, the heart rate at which ischemia occurred defined a high risk group with a low ischemic threshold (38 patients with 20 events [53%]) and an intermediate risk group with a high ischemic threshold (34 patients with 7 events [21%]). All 5 patients with a fatal outcome and 8 of 12 with a nonfatal myocardial infarction were in the high risk group with a low ischemic threshold. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical variables identify 33% of patients at very low risk for perioperative complications of vascular surgery in whom further testing is redundant. In all other candidates, dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography is a powerful tool that identifies those patients at intermediate risk and a small group at very high risk. Risk stratification with a combination of clinical assessment and pharmacologic stress echocardiography has the potential to facilitate clinical decision making and conserve resources.

Analysis of interinstitutional observer agreement in interpretation of dobutamine stress echocardiograms.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the degree of interinstitutional agreement in the interpretation of dobutamine stress echocardiograms. BACKGROUND: Dobutamine stress echocardiography involves subjective interpretation. Consistent methods for acquisition and interpretation are of critical importance for obtaining high interobserver agreement and for facilitating communication of test results. METHODS: Five experienced centers were each asked to submit 30 dobutamine stress echocardiograms (dobutamine up to 40 micrograms/kg body weight per min and atropine up to 1 mg) obtained in patients undergoing coronary angiography. Thus, a total of 150 dobutamine stress echocardiograms were interpreted by each center without knowledge of any other patient data. Left ventricular wall motion was assessed using a 16-segment model but was otherwise not standardized. No patient was excluded because of poor image quality or inadequate stress level. Echocardiographic image quality was assessed using a five-point scale. RESULTS: Angiographically significant coronary artery disease (> or = 50% diameter stenosis) was present in 95 patients (63%). By a majority decision (three or more centers), the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of dobutamine echocardiography were 76%, 87% and 80%, respectively. Abnormal or normal results of stress echocardiography were agreed on by four or all five of the centers in 73% of patients (mean kappa value 0.37, fair agreement only). Agreement on the left anterior descending artery territory (78%) was similar to that for the combined right coronary artery/left circumflex artery territory (74%), and for specific segments the agreement ranged from 84% to 97% and was highest for the basal anterior segment and lowest for the basal inferior segment. Agreement was higher in patients with no (82%) or three-vessel coronary artery disease (100%) and lower in patients with one- or two-vessel disease (61% and 68%, respectively). Agreement on positivity or negativity of stress test results was 100% for patients with the highest image quality but only 43% for those with the lowest image quality (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The current heterogeneity in data acquisition and assessment criteria among different centers results in low interinstitutional agreement in interpretation of stress echocardiograms. Agreement is higher in patients with no or advanced coronary artery disease and substantially lower in those with limited echocardiographic image quality. To increase interinstitutional agreement, better standardization of image acquisition and reading criteria of stress echocardiography is recommended.

Quantitative coronary angiography in the estimation of the functional significance of coronary stenosis: correlations with dobutamine-atropine stress test.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive value of quantitative coronary angiography in the assessment of the functional significance of coronary stenosis as judged from the development of left ventricular wall motion abnormalities during dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography. BACKGROUND: Coronary angiography is the reference method for assessment of the accuracy of noninvasive diagnostic imaging techniques to detect the presence of significant coronary stenosis. However, use of arbitrary cutoff criteria for the interpretation of angiographic data may considerably influence the true diagnostic accuracy of the technique investigated. METHODS: Thirty-four patients without previous myocardial infarction and with single-vessel coronary stenosis were studied with both quantitative angiography and dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography. Two different techniques of quantitative angiographic analysis--edge detection and videodensitometry--were used for measurement of minimal lumen diameter, percent diameter stenosis and percent area stenosis. Two-dimensional echocardiographic images were collected during incremental doses of intravenous dobutamine and later analyzed using a 16-segment left ventricular model. Angiographic cutoff criteria were derived from receiver-operating curves to define the functional significance of coronary stenosis on the basis of dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography. RESULTS: The angiographic cutoff values with the best predictive value for the development of left ventricular wall motion abnormalities during dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography were minimal lumen diameter of 1.07 mm, percent diameter stenosis of 52% and percent area stenosis of 75%. Minimal lumen diameter was found to have the best predictive value for a positive dobutamine stress test (odds ratio 51, sensitivity 94%, specificity 75%). CONCLUSIONS: Automated quantitative angiographic measurement of minimal lumen diameter is a practical and useful index for determining both the anatomic and functional significance of coronary stenosis, and a value of 1.07 mm is the best predictor for a positive dobutamine stress test.

Abnormal left ventricular early diastolic filling during dobutamine stress Doppler echocardiography is a sensitive indicator of significant coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess changes in Doppler indexes of left ventricular ejection and filling in response to high dose (40 micrograms/kg body weight per min) dobutamine stress and their utility in detection of coronary artery disease compared with that of new wall motion abnormalities. METHODS: Ten patients with a low likelihood of coronary artery disease served as a control group, and 23 patients with documented single-vessel coronary artery disease underwent baseline and peak dobutamine echocardiographic and Doppler studies. RESULTS: In both groups dobutamine induced similar increases in heart rate and systolic blood pressure. During the test, 14 patients had new wall motion abnormalities, 13 had angina, and 7 had electrocardiographic ST segment changes. No markers of ischemia occurred in the control subjects. Dobutamine induced qualitatively similar changes from baseline to peak dobutamine stress in control subjects and patients in peak aortic velocity (46% vs. 42%, p = NS), average aortic acceleration (61% vs. 43%, p = 0.03) and systolic time-velocity integral (7% vs. 2%, p = NS). Dobutamine caused marked increases in control subjects and decreases in patients in peak early filling velocity (E) (33% vs. -22%, p < 0.0001) and average E acceleration (76% vs. -28%, p < 0.0001). The response of Doppler early filling indexes to dobutamine stress was abnormal in all patients. There was no overlap in the percent change from baseline to peak dobutamine stress between control subjects and patients for E and E acceleration. CONCLUSIONS: During dobutamine stress testing, an abnormal response of Doppler indexes of left ventricular early filling is a more sensitive marker of significant single-vessel coronary disease than are new wall motion abnormalities, and it is far superior to the response of Doppler ejection variables as a predictor of coronary artery disease.

Simultaneous dobutamine stress echocardiography and technetium-99m isonitrile single-photon emission computed tomography in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the relative value of dobutamine stress echocardiography and technetium-99m isonitrile single-photon emission computed tomography (mibi SPECT) in the detection of myocardial ischemia. BACKGROUND: Stress-induced new wall motion abnormalities and transient perfusion defects are both used for the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia. METHODS: One hundred five consecutive patients with either proved or suspected coronary artery disease, who were referred for perfusion scintigraphy, were studied by a combination of the two techniques. Both echocardiographic and mibi SPECT images were visually analyzed. Three patients were excluded from the final analysis because of unsatisfactory examinations: two with noninterpretable stress echocardiograms and one with noninterpretable mibi SPECT images. The response to stress was concordantly classified by both techniques in 68% of patients (kappa = 0.51). RESULTS: Dobutamine stress echocardiography revealed the presence of ischemia in 38 and mibi SPECT in 45 patients (overall agreement = 74%, kappa = 0.46). The agreement was higher in patients without previous myocardial infarction (84%, kappa = 0.62). When regional analysis was performed, concordance of stress echocardiography and mibi SPECT occurred in 84% of the 306 regions (kappa = 0.45). Regional agreement was also slightly higher in patients without previous infarction (88%, kappa = 0.50). In 21 patients without previous myocardial infarction who underwent coronary angiography, the overall sensitivity of dobutamine stress echocardiography and mibi SPECT for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (diameter stenosis > 50%) was 75% and 83%, respectively, with a specificity of 89% (eight of nine patients) for both tests. CONCLUSIONS: Dobutamine stress echocardiography represents a reasonable alternative to dobutamine mibi SPECT for the functional assessment of patients with suspected myocardial ischemia and without previous myocardial infarction.

Quantitative angiographic measurements of isolated left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis. Correlation with exercise echocardiography and technetium-99m 2-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile single-photon emission computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess the value of quantitative coronary arteriography in predicting an ischemic response at exercise echocardiography and technetium-99m 2-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile (mibi) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with single-vessel disease of the left anterior descending coronary artery. BACKGROUND: The relation between severity of coronary stenosis and ischemic response to exercise echocardiography and perfusion scintigraphy in patients with single-vessel left anterior descending coronary artery disease is not well established. METHODS: Thirty-one patients without a previous myocardial infarction who had isolated stenosis of varying degrees in the proximal or midportion of the left anterior descending coronary artery were studied. Quantitative arteriographic analysis was used for measurements of percent diameter stenosis and minimal lumen diameter. Exercise-induced wall motion abnormalities by echocardiography and transient perfusion defects by mibi SPECT were considered a positive response. The analysis of sensitivity/specificity and receiver operating characteristic curves was applied to establish the diagnostic power of quantitative coronary arteriography to predict an ischemic response to exercise echocardiography and mibi SPECT: RESULTS: The "best" angiographic cutoff values for predicting a positive exercise echocardiographic and scintigraphic response were similar (diameter stenosis 52%, minimal lumen diameter 1.12 mm for echocardiography; diameter stenosis 49%, minimal lumen diameter 1.20 mm for SPECT). However, the sensitivity/specificity at the cross point was slightly higher (even if not statistically significant) for echocardiography than for SPECT, both for diameter stenosis (81% vs. 67%) and minimal lumen diameter (81% vs. 74%), suggesting that quantitative coronary arteriographic measurements are more closely related to echocardiographic than scintigraphic exercise test results. CONCLUSIONS: The functional significance of a proximal/mid-left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis measured by quantitative coronary arteriography is slightly better related to echocardiographic than scintigraphic markers of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia.

Biphasic response to dobutamine predicts improvement of global left ventricular function after surgical revascularization in patients with stable coronary artery disease: implications of time course of recovery on diagnostic accuracy.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the time course of improvement of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in stable patients and its implications on the accuracy of dobutamine echocardiography for predicting improvement after surgical revascularization. BACKGROUND: Little is known about the optimal timing for evaluation of postrevascularization recovery of the contractile function of viable myocardium. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with chronic ischemic LV dysfunction scheduled for elective surgical revascularization were prospectively selected. They underwent dobutamine echocardiography (5 to 40 microg/kg body weight per min) and radionuclide ventriculography both preoperatively and at 3-month follow-up. At 14 months, another evaluation of LV function was obtained. To analyze echocardiograms, a 16-segment model and a five-point scoring system were used. Dyssynergic segments were considered likely to recover in the presence of a biphasic contractile response to dobutamine. Improvement of global function was defined as a > or =5% increase in LV ejection fraction (LVEF). RESULTS: Of the 61 patients, LVEF improved in 12 at 3 months and in 19 at late follow-up (from 32+/-8% to 42+/-9%, p < 0.0001). The frequency and time course of improvement of LVEF were similar in patients with mild and severe LV dysfunction. A biphasic response, identified in 186 of the 537 dyssynergic segments, was predictive of recovery in 63% at 3 months and in 75% at late follow-up. The positive predictive value was best in the most severe dyssynergic segments (90% vs. 67%). Other responses were highly predictive for nonrecovery (92%). The sensitivity and specificity for improvement of global function on a patient basis (> or =4 biphasic segments) were 89% and 81%, respectively, at late follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Serial postoperative follow-up studies demonstrate incomplete recovery of contractile function at 3 months. The diagnostic accuracy of dobutamine echocardiography for predicting recovery is dependent on three factors: the combining of low and high dobutamine dosages, the severity of regional dyssynergy and the timing of evaluation.

Prediction of recovery of myocardial dysfunction after revascularization. Comparison of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose/thallium-201 SPECT, thallium-201 stress-reinjection SPECT and dobutamine echocardiography.

OBJECTIVES: We compared three techniques to predict functional recovery after revascularization. BACKGROUND: Recently, fluorine-18 (F-18) fluorodeoxyglucose in combination with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) has been proposed to identify viable myocardium, Thallium-201 reinjection and low dose dobutamine echocardiography are used routinely for this purpose. METHODS: Seventeen patients (mean [+/- SD] left ventricular ejection fraction 36 +/- 11%) were studied. Regional and global ventricular function were evaluated before and 3 months after revascularization by echocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography, respectively. Myocardial F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose uptake (during hyperinsulinemic glucose clamping) was compared with rest perfusion assessed with early thallium-201 SPECT. On a separate day, low dose dobutamine echocardiography and post-stress thallium-201 reinjection SPECT were simultaneously performed. RESULTS: The sensitivities for F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose/thallium-201, thallium-201 reinjection and low dose dobutamine echocardiography to assess recovery were 89%, 93% and 85%, respectively; specificities were 77%, 43% and 63%, respectively. Stepwise logistic regression indicated that F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose/ thallium-201 was the best predictor. In hypokinetic segments, the combination of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose/thallium-201 and low dose dobutamine echocardiography was the best predictor. Global function improved (left ventricular ejection fraction increased > 5%) in 6 patients and remained unchanged in 11. All three techniques correctly identified five of six patients with improvement. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose/thallium-201 identified all patients without improvement; low dose dobutamine echocardiography identified 9 of 11 without improvement; and thallium-201 reinjection identified 6 of 11 patients without improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose/thallium-201 SPECT was superior to the other techniques in assessing functional recovery. Integration of metabolic and functional data is necessary, particularly in hypokinesia, for optimal prediction of improvement of regional function.

Prognostic value of dobutamine-atropine stress technetium-99m sestamibi perfusion scintigraphy in patients with chest pain.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the prognostic value of dobutamine-atropine technetium-99m (Tc-99m) sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging. BACKGROUND: Dobutamine-atropine Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT imaging is an accurate method for the detection of coronary disease. However, the prognostic value of this stress modality has not been assessed. METHODS: Three hundred ninety-two consecutive patients with chest pain (mean [+/- SD] age 60 +/- 12 years; 220 men, 190 with a previous myocardial infarction) underwent a dobutamine-atropine Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT scintigraphic study. Patients were followed up for 22 +/- 13 months to determine the univariate and multivariate variables associated with hard cardiac events (cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction), to define their event-free survival and to determine whether the extent and severity of reversible perfusion defects correlated with events. RESULTS: Forty-four patients (11%) had hard cardiac events. Multivariate models demonstrated that older age (odds ratio [OR] 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0 to 4.4), history of heart failure (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.3 to 5.2), abnormal sestamibi scan results (OR 10.0, 95% CI 2.3 to 43.0) and reversible perfusion defects (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.6 to 6.4) had independent predictive value. Patients without perfusion defects, with fixed defects alone, reversible defects alone and fixed plus reversible defects had annual hard cardiac event rates of 0.8%, 6.8%, 8.1% and 11.6%, respectively. Patients with increasing reversible defect scores had increasing annual event rates of 2.1%, 5.0%, 5.5%, 13.0% and 14.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Dobutamine-atropine stress Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT imaging provides excellent prognostic information. The single most important independent predictor for future hard cardiac events is an abnormal pattern, and a reversible defect provides additional, independent prognostic information. Moreover, the extent and severity of reversible defects are major determinants for prognosis.