ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the value of myocardial contrast echocardiography(MCE)combined with high-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography(DSE)in the early diagnosis of coronary artery disease(CAD).Methods The dobutamine stress MCE and SonoVue contrast infusion were performed before an elective percutaneous coronary intervention in 38 patients with suspected CAD.The total and regional perfusion were scored as normal or abnormal and attributed to the three main epicardial coronary arteries using a 16-segment left ventricular model.Results An intermediate stress level was obtained in 22(58%)patients,and 9(24%)patients were obtained with peak stress.Twenty seven of 38 patients were diagnosed as CAD by quantitative coronary angiography.A perfusion defect was detected in 89% of the patients at peak stress,compared to 37% at baseline,there was significant difference(χ2=15.565,P<0.01).ConclusionsThe MCE combined with DSE can increase the sensitivity of myocardial ischemia detection.As a new non-invasive method,MCE combined with DSE could be used in the early diagnosis of CAD.