Chronotropic response, safety, and accuracy of dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with atrial fibrillation and known or suspected coronary artery disease.

Ninety-two consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography were compared with a control group of patients in sinus rhythm matched for age, sex, and resting heart rate. Patients with AF had an increased chronotropic response to dobutamine, but there were no adverse effects and no evidence that the lower doses of dobutamine typically given to patients with AF were insufficient to induce ischemia.