[Prognostic value of echocardiography with high-dose dipyridamole after recent uncomplicated myocardial infarction]

The feasibility, safety and prognostic importance of high-dose (0.84 mg/kg over 10 minutes) dipyridamole 2D echocardiography test (DET) were evaluated in 78 asymptomatic patients 10 to 14 days after uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction and the results were compared with those of exercise stress test (EST). Criteria of positivity were: for DET a new or worsening asynergy; for EST, ST segment depression greater than or equal to 1 mm (patients were in complete pharmacological wash-out). Patients were followed-up for 9 to 22 months (mean 14 +/- 5) or until one of the following end-points occurred: death, infarction or severe angina. DET was positive in 13/17 patients and EST in 5/17 patients with poor clinical outcome (sensitivity 76% vs 29%; p less than 0.005); for hard events only (death or infarction) sensitivity was respectively 64% vs 9%; (p less than 0.05). Both tests had the same specificity (92%). Cumulative event-free survival curves as a function of DET and EST results were both statistically different (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.05 respectively). Cumulative survival curves obtained by the combination of DET and EST results showed: 1) an uneventful course in patients with both tests or only DET negative; 2) and a poor clinical outcome in patients with both test or only DET positive (p less than 0.001) DET correctly predicted clinical outcome in 12/16 patients in whom there was disagreement between the two tests. We conclude that DET is more sensitive than EST for identifying patients at increased risk for coronary events and more accurate for predicting clinical outcome after uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction.