Squatting stress echocardiography potential in coronary heart disease diagnostics

While stress echocardiography (EchoCG) is widely used in clinical practice for diagnosing silent myocardial ischemia, the search for new stress tests remains an important task in the diagnostics of coronary heart disease (CHD). 

Aim. To assess the potential of squatting stress EchoCG in the diagnostics of CHD. 

Material and methods. In total, 53 men (mean age 53,2±0,93 years) underwent stress EchoCG. At coronary angiography, the CHD diagnosis was verified in 37 men (mean age 54,1±1,2 years), while in the other 16 men (mean age 51,0±1,4 years), myocardial ischemia was not confirmed. All participants underwent standard stress EchoCG with dobutamine, as well as supine and squatting EchoCG. The myocardial ischemia criterion was the development of additional asynergy zones in left ventricular myocardium. 

Results. The test was performed in all patients, without any complications. Disturbed local contractility was observed at the time of squatting and rapidly disappeared while standing up. The sensitivity and specificity of squatting stress EchoCG in the CHD diagnostics were 94,6% and 81.3%, respectively. 

Conclusion. Therefore, we have demonstrated a high diagnostic value of squatting stress EchoCG for diagnosing myocardial ischemia. This value was comparable to that of stress EchoCG with dobutamine.

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