![Sample our Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5944/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Medicine-Dentistry-Nursing-Allied-Health.jpg"})
Abstract
BACKGROUND: DSE and SPECT are two well-established methods to non-invasively investigate the functional significance of coronary artery stenoses in patients with coronary artery disease. The measurement of Fractional Flow Reserve has emerged a new invasive reference standard for lesion specific quantification of coronary artery stenoses. The objective of our prospective study was to compare sensitivity and specificity of Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography (DSE) and Single Photon Emission Computer tomography (SPECT) with the pressure derived Frational Flow Reserve (FFR) for the identification of hemodynamic relevant cororonary lesions in patients with predominantely coronary multivessel disease and angiographically intermediate stenoses. METHODS: Inclusion criteria were a coronary lesion of 50-75% diameter stenosis by visual assessment in patients with known or suspected CAD. SPECT, DSE and FFR testing was performed within one week of coronary angiography RESULTS: The study comprised 48 consecutive symptomatic patients. In 41 cases, a coronary multivessel disease was present. Mean FFR was 0.80 ± 0.13 (0.41-1.0). Overall sensitivity of DSE and SPECT was 67% and 69% whereas specificity reached 77% and 87%. However, sensitivity was significantly reduced if the target lesion was located distally. DSE showed poor results if the lesions were located in the circumflex artery or if a history of prior myocardial infarctions was present. CONCLUSION: DSE and SPECT are both useful methods for the non-invasive assessment of coronary artery disease. DSE showed reasonable combination of sensitivity and specificity even in patients with multivessel disease. Although use of noninvasive stress tests is only limited in patients with prior myocardial infarctions and invasive stress testing should be preferred in these patients. (Int J Cardiovasc Intervent 2004; 6: 142-147)