[Diagnosis of ischemic heart disease by infusion of isopropylarterenol: comparison with ergometry and validation by coronary arteriography].

In order to evaluate isopropylarterenol infusion (ISO) as a diagnostic procedure in ischemic heart disease, we performed a clinical study in 54 patients controlled with exercise stress test (ERGO) and validated by coronary arteriography. Eighteen patients had normal coronary arteriographic findings and 36 had coronary artery disease. In both groups the hemodynamic response was similar in either test used (ERGO or ISO), when similar heart rates were reached. The sensitivity of ERGO was 80.55% and 86.11% for ISO and specificity of 77.72% and 72.26% respectively in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. When both tests are associated their sensitivity is 83.30% and their specificity is 75.0% (Table V). The ISO test was not accompanied with adverse effects and could be considered as a useful method in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease, similar to ERGO. Additionally ISO could be applied to understand some physiopathological mechanisms of ischemic heart disease.