Tissue Doppler systolic velocity change during dobutamine stress echocardiography predicts contractile reserve and exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure.

Aims: Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is widely used to evaluate myocardial contractile reserve in patients with heart failure (HF). The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the tissue Doppler (TD) mitral annulus systolic velocity (Sm) change during DSE, contractile reserve, and aerobic exercise capacity in HF patients.

Methods And Results: Sixty-four HF patients (age 67 ± 9 years, 58% with an ischaemic aetiology, and a mean value of the ejection fraction 29 ± 7%) underwent high-dose DSE.

Pressure-volume relationship during dobutamine stress echocardiography predicts exercise tolerance in patients with congestive heart failure.

Background: The pressure-volume relationship (PVR) is a useful method for evaluating left ventricular (LV) myocardial contractility during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). The investigators assessed PVRs, systolic and diastolic function, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, and aerobic exercise capacity in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).

Methods: A total of 84 patients with CHF (mean age, 68 +/- 9 years) underwent high-dose DSE.

Effect of intraventricular dyssynchrony on diastolic function and exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure.

Aims: Intraventricular dyssynchrony may contribute to the severity of heart failure [congestive heart failure (CHF)]. We assessed the correlates of intraventricular dyssynchrony and evaluated dyssynchrony as an independent predictive variable of exercise intolerance in CHF patients.

Methods And Results: Eighty-one CHF patients (66 +/- 9 years) underwent cardiopulmonary exercise test.