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Published on: March 12, 2016

Topical betablocker use can result in inconclusive dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with glaucoma

Adriana Cordovil1, Fernando Q Matos, Orlando Campos Filho

  • 1Universidade Federal de São Paulo-UNIFESP/EPM, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. acordovil@cardiol.br

Arquivos Brasileiros De Cardiologia
|September 5, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Glaucoma patients may have inconclusive dobutamine stress echocardiography results. Topical beta-blockers used for glaucoma can lower heart rate, potentially affecting test outcomes in cardiac assessments.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) assesses coronary artery disease.
  • Atropine enhances DSE sensitivity but is contraindicated in glaucoma patients.
  • Glaucoma is prevalent in cardiac patients over 40.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if topical beta-blockers in glaucoma patients cause low chronotropic response.
  • To determine if this response leads to inconclusive DSE results.

Main Methods:

  • Observational study design.
  • Analysis of DSE protocols in glaucoma patients using topical beta-blockers.
  • Assessment of chronotropic response and DSE outcome.

Main Results:

  • Topical beta-blockers may lead to a blunted heart rate increase during DSE.
  • This reduced response can potentially render DSE results inconclusive.

Conclusions:

  • The systemic effects of topical beta-blockers in glaucoma patients require consideration.
  • Alternative DSE protocols may be needed for this patient group.

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