Dobutamine Stress Testing as a Diagnostic Tool for Evaluation of Myocardial Contractile Reserve in Asymptomatic or Mildly Symptomatic Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Masakazu Kobayashi, Hideo Izawa, Xian Wu Cheng, Hiroyuki Asano, Akihiro Hirashiki, Kazumasa Unno, Satoru Ohshima, Takashi Yamada, Yosuke Murase, Tomoko S. Kato, Koji Obata, Akiko Noda, Takao Nishizawa, Satoshi Isobe, Kohzo Nagata, Tatsuaki Matsubara, Toyoaki Murohara, Mitsuhiro Yokota

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: We performed dobutamine stress testing for evaluation of myocardial contractile reserve in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Background: Catecholamine sensitivity is reduced in failing hearts as a result of myocardial abnormalities in the beta-adrenergic receptor signaling pathway. However, little is known about adrenergic myocardial contractile reserve in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with DCM. Methods: The maximal first derivative of left ventricular pressure (LV dP/dtmax) was determined during infusion of dobutamine (10 μg kg-1 min-1) in 46 asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic (New York Heart Association functional class I or II) patients with DCM. The expression of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) for contractile regulatory proteins in endomyocardial biopsy specimens was quantified by reverse transcription and real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Plasma norepinephrine levels were measured in all patients and [123I]metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy performed. Results: Patients were classified into 3 groups based on the percentage increase in LV dP/dtmax induced by dobutamine (ΔLV dP/dtmax) and on LV ejection fraction (LVEF) at baseline: group I (n = 18): ΔLV dP/dtmax >100% and LVEF >25%; group IIa (n = 17): ΔLV dP/dtmax ≤100% and LVEF > 25%; and group IIb (n = 11): ΔLV dP/dtmax ≤100% and LVEF ≤25%. The amounts of beta1-adrenergic receptor, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-adenosine triphosphatase, and phospholamban mRNA were significantly smaller in groups IIa and IIb than in group I. The plasma norepinephrine level was increased and the delayed heart/mediastinum count ratio in MIBG scintigraphy was decreased in both groups IIa and IIb. Conclusions: Dobutamine stress testing is a useful diagnostic tool for identifying reduced adrenergic myocardial contractile reserve related to altered myocardial expression of beta1-adrenergic receptor, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-adenosine triphosphatase, and phospholamban genes even in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with DCM.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)718-726
Number of pages9
JournalJACC: Cardiovascular Imaging
Volume1
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11-2008

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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