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Cardiac Stress Test Induced by Dobutamine and Monitored by Cardiac Catheterization in Mice
15:45

Cardiac Stress Test Induced by Dobutamine and Monitored by Cardiac Catheterization in Mice

Published on: February 10, 2013

Beta adrenergic receptor blockade causing severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction during dobutamine stress

David R Okada1, Robert D Okada, Robert O Bonow

  • 1University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.)
|October 13, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Beta-blockers can cause false abnormalities in dobutamine stress echocardiograms (DSE), mimicking cardiac dysfunction. Physicians must consider beta-blocker use when interpreting DSE results in patients experiencing chest pain.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

  • Neurocardiogenic syncope is a common cause of fainting.
  • Beta-blockers are frequently prescribed for cardiovascular conditions.

Observation:

  • A patient on beta-blockers presented with chest pain and abnormal dobutamine echocardiogram findings.
  • Coronary angiography revealed no obstructive coronary artery disease.

Findings:

  • Discontinuation of beta-blockers normalized the dobutamine stress echocardiogram (DSE) response.
  • Reinitiation of beta-blockers again induced global left ventricular (LV) dysfunction during DSE.

Implications:

  • Dobutamine stress echocardiography results may be falsely abnormal in patients taking beta-blockers.
  • Clinicians should exercise caution when interpreting DSE in patients on beta-blocker therapy to avoid misdiagnosis of cardiac dysfunction.

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