Ultrasound Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ultrasound, including details on screening, diagnosis, pregnancy, detection. | ||||||||
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Long-term prognostic importance of transient left ventricular dilation during pharmacologic stress echocardiography.Pérez de Isla L, Zamorano J, Almería C, Rodrigo JL, Villagómez D, Florit J, Aubele A, Macaya C Echocardiographic Laboratory, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, 28040 Madrid, Spain. OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the prognostic significance of left ventricular (LV) transient ischemic dilation (TID) for patients with a positive stress echocardiogram (SE). BACKGROUND: TID during SE has been related to the presence of extensive coronary artery disease, but its long-term prognostic implications have not been reported. METHODS: In all, 99 consecutive patients with a positive SE comprised the study group. LV volumes were evaluated according to the modified Simpson's rule. TID during SE was defined as the presence of an increase in LV end-diastolic volume during the stress test. A clinical history was fulfilled for each patient and all of them were followed up. RESULTS: Of 99 patients, 32 (32.3%) showed TID. Mean age was 65.8 +/- 9.8 years for non-TID group and 70.2 +/- 8.4 for TID group (P = .048). Baseline characteristics and subsequent treatment were similar in both groups. Mean follow-up was 21.4 +/- 15.8 months. In non-TID group the mean survival free of acute myocardial infarction was 47.28 months and 39.7 months in TID group (log rank = 0.012). In the univariate and multivariate analysis only TID and the wall motion score index were found as independent predictors related to long-term prognosis (risk ratio = 6.9; 95% confidence interval = 0.8-59.6; P = .042; and risk ratio = 0.4; 95% confidence interval = 0.18-0.89; P = .047, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: LV TID during SE is an easy and independent prognostic marker. It helps to select patients with increased risk. Published 7 January 2005 in J Am Soc Echocardiogr, 18(1): 57-62.
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