MSCT with retrospective ECG gating permits the detection of coronary artery stenoses with high accuracy if image quality is sufficient, but its clinical use may presently be limited due to degraded image quality in a substantial number of cases, mainly due to rapid coronary motion.

Background-Interpretation of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is subjective and strongly dependent on the skills of the reader. Strain-rate imaging (SRI) by tissue Doppler may objectively analyze regional myocardial function. This study investigated SRI markers of stress-induced ischemia and analyzed their applicability in a clinical setting. Methods and Results-DSE was performed in 44 patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. Simultaneous perfusion scintigraphy served as a "gold standard" to define regional ischemia. All patients underwent coronary angiography. Segmental strain and strain rate were analyzed at all stress levels by measuring amplitude and timing of deformation and visual curved M-mode analysis. Results were compared with conventional stress echo reading. In nonischemic segments, peak systolic strain rate increased significantly with dobutamine stress (Ϫ1.6Ϯ0.6 s Ϫ1 versus Ϫ3.4Ϯ1.4 s

The present data indicate that under angiogenic stimulation macrophages develop an endothelial phenotype with expression of specific surface markers and even form cord- and tubular-like structures in vitro suggesting that this cell population may be recruited for vasculogenesis.

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