VALUE OF DIPYRIDAMOLE WITH FIRST PASS RADIONUCLIDE VENTRICULOGRAPHY IN ASSESSMENT OF CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE

The use of dipyridamole with first pass radionuclide ventriculography for detecting coronary artery disease is described for the first time. Fifteen patients with normal coronary arteries demonstrated a mean in crease in ejection fraction after dipyridamole, while 41 patients with severe coronary artery disease (>70% stenosis) demonstrated a mean de crease in ejection fraction (6.3 +/- 6%, -6.5 +/- 6%, respectively; p < 0.05). Mean wall motion score was zero in the normal group and 1.27 +/- 1.13 in the abnormal group. End-diastolic volume did not change si gnificantly in either group. However, end-systolic volume decreased in the normal group (p = 0.019) and markedly increased in the abnormal g roup (p = 0.0001). The sensitivity of this technique was 73% and speci ficity 93%. However, the sensitivity increased to 89% in multivessel d isease. Dipyridamole has an effect on the systolic performance in pati ents with marked coronary artery disease.