Strain Magnitude Assessed at Rest and During Stress Echocardiography in Patients with Normal Coronary Flow Reserve

Abstract

Myocardial deformation measurement from echocardiographic strain is an important tool for assessing global or segmental performance of the cardiac muscle. [1][2][3][4][5] Strain may be revealing of a healthy myocardium with contractile reserve or a myocardium whose performance is compromised. [6][7][8] Adenosine and dipyridamole are coronary vasodilators that may exert a positive inotropic effect on the myocardium. Thus, these drugs can be used to assess strain changes, myocardial contractile reserve, and coronary flow reserve (CFR). 9,10 However, dobutamine is a potent positive inotropic agent and has a coronary vasodilator effect similar to that of adenosine or dipyridamole. Consequently, it better expresses myocardial contractile reserve on strain and allows a simultaneous assessment of CFR. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17]