Objective To validate the measurement of coronary flow velocity and coronary flow velocity reserve(CFVR) by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography(TTDE) compared with invasive intracoronary Doppler flow wire technique(ICD) and to evaluate changes in coronary flow dynamics due to microvascular dysfunction in the patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries and chest pain.Methods Coronary flow velocity was measured in the distal left anterior descending artery(LAD) in 35 patients by TTDE at baseline and during intravenous adenosine infusion of 140 ?g?kg -1 ?min -1 . CFVR, coronary vascular resistance(CVR) and minimal coronary vascular resistance index(CVRI) were analysed in the patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries and chest pain (group A, n =20) and compared to a control group (group B, n =15).Results Average peak velocity at baseline (APVb),average peak velocity at hyperemia (APVh) and CFVR determined from TTDE correlated closely with those from ICD measurements.CFVR was lower and CVRI was higher in group A than in group B.Conclusions Noninvasive TTDE provides reliable measurement of coronary flow velocity and CFVR in the distal LAD.Microvascular dysfunction existed in the patients with normal angiograms and chest pain.

The measurement of coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) with invasive intracoronary Doppler flow wire technique (ICD) was validated and the pathologicalfactors which influence CFVR in patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries were analyzed. CFVR was determined successfully in left anterior descending artery (LAD) in 37 of 40 patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries (men 22, women 15, age 20-75 years, mean age 54 ± 12 years). Coronary flow velocity was measured in the distal LAD by TTDE with contrast enhancement at baseline and during intravenous adenosine infusion of 140 μg/kg per min within 48 h after ICD technique. Average peak velocity at baseline (APVb), average peak velocity during hyperemia (APVh) and CFVR determined from TTDE were correlated closely with those from ICD measurements (APVb: y=0. 64x+5. 04, r=0. 86, P＜0. 001;APVh: y=0.63x+14.36, r=0.82, P＜0.001; CFVR: y=0.65x+0.92, r=0.88, P＜0. 001).For CFVR measurements, the mean differences between TTDE and ICD methods were 0. 12 ±0.39. CFVR in patients with history of hypertension was significantly lower than that in patients without history of hypertension (P＜0.05). Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was performed in 34patients. Plaque formation was found in LAD by IVUS in 17 (50 %) patients. No significant difference in CFVR was found between the patients without plaque formation (3. 11±0. 49) and those with plaque formation (2. 76±0.53, P=0. 056). It is suggested that TTDE with contrast enhancement provides reliable measurement of APV and CFVR in the distal LAD. The early stage of atherosclerosis could be detected by IVUS, which may be normal in angiography. CFVR is impaired in patients with history of hypertension compared with that in patients without history of hypertension.

Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) allows noninvasive flow measurement in the distal left anterior descending artery (LAD). The feasibility of detecting coronary flow by contrast-enhanced TTDE with second harmonic technique was assessed, the coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) was evaluated in comparison to intracoronary Doppler flow (ICD) analysis and the CFVR after PTCA in LAD was investigated. In 77 (96%) of 80 patients, CFVR was successfully determined with intravenous adenosine infusion. Doppler signal quality was evaluated in the first 46 patients by use of intravenous Levovist infusion and second harmonic technique. The Doppler flow was not visible in 1. patient only. CFVR determined from TTDE (2.77 +/- 0.65) was correlated closely with those from ICD (2.88 +/- 0.78) measurements (y = 0.73x + 0.67, r = 0.87, P < 0.001). In conclusion, TTDE is a feasible method and provides reliable data on CFVR which can be used for follow-up after PTCA.
Adenosine ; administration & dosage ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Contrast Media ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Coronary Circulation ; physiology ; Coronary Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polysaccharides ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Vasodilator Agents ; administration & dosage