Detection of reversible myocardial ischemia with MR imaging during dobutamine infusion

This paper shows that MR imaging detects reversible wall motion abnormalities in 67% of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and reversible thallium perfusion defects during dipyridamole stress. This study examines the feasibility and diagnostic value of MR imaging during infusion of dobutamine, an alternative stressor with easily controlled level and duration of stress. Patients undergoing coronary angiography were studied with cine MR imaging of ventricular wall motion in two long and two short axes, and with dobutamine thallium tomography. Baseline and peak stress images were acquired. Dobutamine was infused in four stages from 5--20 μg/kg/min until maximum dose or symptoms occurred