Echocardiographic predictors of early in-hospital heart failure during first ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction: does myocardial performance index and left atrial volume improve diagnosis over conventional parameters of left ventricular function?

Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has been considered a major determinant of early outcome in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Myocardial performance index (MPI) has been associated to early evolution in AMI in a heterogeneous population, including non ST-elevation or previous AMI. Left atrial volume has been related with late evolution after AMI.

Feasibility, safety and accuracy of dobutamine/atropine stress echocardiography for the detection of coronary artery disease in renal transplant candidates.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety and accuracy of dobutamine/atropine stress echocardiography (DASE) for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) in renal transplant candidates.

Methods: Patients candidates to renal transplant were submitted consecutively to DASE and coronary angiography. The adopted angiographic criteria for CAD were an obstructive lesion of > or = 50% and > or = 70%.

Increase in systolic blood pressure during exercise testing after heart transplantation: correlation with the clinical condition and ventricular function assessed by dobutamine stress echocardiography.

Objective: Patients who underwent heart transplantation (HTX) experience a reduction in the elevation that is usual in systolic blood pressure during exercise testing. Of unknown origin, this phenomenon varies in frequency and intensity. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between systolic blood pressure increase (delta SBP) and clinical aspects, as well as variables measured during exercise testing (ET) and dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in patients in the late post-transplantation course.

Role of dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography in prognostic evaluation of 300 women.

Background: Dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography (DASE) is a safe and accurate method to diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD), and can identify individuals at high risk for cardiac events such as myocardial infarction and cardiac-related death. The literature is limited regarding the prognostic value of DASE in women.

Objective: The objective was to determine the prognostic value of DASE in 300 women with known or suspected CAD.