Using Dobutamine Stress MRI to Manage Heart Disease
Author Information
Author(s): Gebker Rolf, Jahnke Cosima, Manka Robert, Hucko Thomas, Schnackenburg Bernhard, Kelle Sebastian, Klein Christoph, Fleck Eckart, Paetsch Ingo
Primary Institution: German Heart Institute Berlin
Hypothesis
The study aims to assess the utility of dobutamine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (DCMR) in the clinical management of patients with suspected and known coronary artery disease (CAD).
Conclusion
DCMR is a valuable tool for clinical decision making and effectively stratifies patients with suspected and known CAD.
Supporting Evidence
- DCMR-positive patients had a high positive predictive value of 86% for significant coronary stenoses.
- Only 0.96% of DCMR-negative patients experienced cardiac events during follow-up.
- Patients with a positive DCMR who did not undergo angiography had a 15.3% event rate.
Takeaway
Doctors can use a special heart test called DCMR to help decide if patients with heart problems need surgery or just medicine.
Methodology
The study involved a standard DCMR examination performed on 1532 patients, with follow-up data collected over a mean period of 2.1 years.
Limitations
Delayed enhancement images were not acquired, which may have provided additional prognostic value.
Participant Demographics
The study included 1532 patients with suspected or known CAD, with a mean age of 64 years and a majority being male (approximately 70%).
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website