OBJECTIVES To compare the accuracy of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) and simultaneous 99mTc sestamibi (MIBI) single-photon emission CT (SPECT) imaging for the diagnosis of coronary artery stenosis in women. PATIENTS Seventy women with limited exercise capacity referred for evaluation of myocardial ischemia. METHODS DSE (up to 40 microg/kg/min) was performed in conjunction with str...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Previous studies have reported that carotid atherosclerosis frequently can be seen in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. This study sought to determine the prevalence of compositional features in subclinical carotid atherosclerosis by MRI in CAD patients. METHODS Ninety-six subjects with suspected CAD but free of neurological symptoms underwent coronary CT angiogra...

OBJECTIVE The clinical significance of an intramural course (or bridging) of the coronary artery remains controversial. We investigated the relationship between intramural coronary arteries (ICAs) and coronary stenosis and prognosis of subjects with ICA. METHODS AND RESULTS ICA and coronary stenosis were assessed by multidetector computed tomography coronary angiography. ICAs in the left ante...

Zhonghua Sun1*, and Thanapong Chaichana2 1Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, 6845, Australia 2Biomechanical Electronics Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Liverpool Hope University, Hope Park, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom *Author for correspondence: Tel.: +6189266 7509 Fax: +61892662377 [email protected] Th...

BACKGROUND There are controversies regarding the usefulness of coronary artery calcium score (CACS) for predicting coronary artery stenosis. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of CACS for determining the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with sign and symptoms of the disease. MATERIAL/METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 748 consecut...

OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study is to explore the correlation between vascular endothelial function and coronary artery stenosis in non-hypertensive patients with elevated blood pressure under stress. METHODS This study included 1141 patients suspected of having coronary artery disease (CAD) without hypertension. Coronary arteriography and ultrasonic detection were used to measure the...

The pathophysiology of cardiac pain in pure aortic stenosis has primarily been ascribed to an augmented left ventricular demand outstripping energy supply. This report provides evidence that not only is the energy demand increased but the supply in terms of coronary vascular reserve may be impaired, particularly in response to stress. Hemodynamic and coronary circulatory changes were studied in...

BACKGROUND Coronary artery calcium score (CCS) is a quantitative assessment of calcifications detectable by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). AIM To evaluate diagnostic accuracy of CCS to detect significant stenosis in coronary arteries in symptomatic patients. METHODS The study population included consecutive symptomatic patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) who wer...

Previous studies based on coronary angiography or computed tomography coronary angiography have demonstrated a high prevalence of coronary stenosis in patients with cerebral infarction and no prior history of coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of the present study was to compare the coronary angiographic findings of patients with prior cerebral infarction with those of patients with no ...