DSE may perform better than MPS but additional studies directly comparing these cardiac screening tests are needed. Absence of significant CAD may not necessarily correlate with cardiac-event free survival following transplantation. Further research should focus on assessing the ability of functional tests to predict postoperative outcome.
The diagnostic and prognostic value of tissue Doppler imaging during dobutamine stress echocardiography in end-stage renal disease.
To determine whether a quantitative measurement of peak systolic velocity (PSV) during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) detects severe coronary artery disease (CAD) and predicts mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease.
                One hundred and forty renal transplant candidates had DSE and coronary angiography. DSE analysis was performed using conventional visual wall motion assessment, longitudinal PSV, and combining the two modalities. Failure of PSV to rise by more than 50% predicted an ischemic response. Significant CAD was defined as luminal stenosis greater than 70%.
                The number of positive DSE studies according to conventional, PSV, and combined criteria was 41 (30%), 42 (31%), and 46 (34%) respectively. Forty patients (29%) had significant CAD at angiography. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for conventional DSE analysis were 84, 91, 86, and 90% respectively. The same values for PSV analysis were 86, 92, 86, and 91%, respectively. The same values for the combination of visual and PSV analysis were 88, 94, 87, and 92% respectively. The differences between the three methods were not statistically significant. Sensitivity for single-vessel CAD (P=0.05) and circumflex artery disease (P=0.05) diagnosis was higher with PSV compared with conventional DSE analysis. Failure of PSV to rise by more than 50% during DSE was associated with significantly increased mortality (P=0.001).
                A quantitative interpretation of DSE, based on the percentage rise of PSV during stress, accurately detects CAD and predicts prognosis in end-stage renal disease.