Changes in Systolic and Diastolic Function Indexes Throughout Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography in Healthy Volunteers and Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Dobutamine stress echocardiography is a well-established diagnostic method for investigating patients with suspected ischemic coronary disease. A positive test result is based on systolic parameters, but left ventricular filling parameters also are affected by myocardial ischemia. The aim of the present study was to study changes in both systolic and diastolic left ventricular variables throughout the test, including the period following it.