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

40 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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