[Echocardiographic test of dipyridamole in recognition of coronary artery disease].

To assess the feasibility, safety and usefulness of dipyridamole stress echocardiography for the detection of coronary artery disease we evaluated 194 patients (124 men, 70 women) with effort chest pain. All patients underwent electrocardiographic submaximal bicycle exercise testing and 2-dimensional echocardiography after dipyridamole injection. Echocardiographic test was considered positive when new wall motion abnormalities were observed after dipyridamole i.v. injection (0.56 mg/kg b.m.). Sensitivity and specificity of electrocardiographic exercise test and dipyridamole stress echocardiography were assessed in 37 persons who underwent selective coronary angiography. The sensitivity and specificity of dipyridamole stress echocardiography, were respectively 85.0% and 91.7% and were higher than those of exercise electrocardiography. 2-dimensional echocardiography after dipyridamole injection is a well tolerated, feasible and effective test in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.