Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the accuracy and reproducibility of contrast echocardiography versus tissue harmonic imaging for measurements of left ventricular (LV) volumes and ejection fraction (EF) compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
METHODS: Digital echo recordings of apical LV views before and after intravenous contrast were collected from 110 consecutive patients. Magnetic resonance imaging of multiple short-axis LV sections was performed with a 1.5-T scanner. Left ventricular volumes and EF were calculated offline by method of discs. Thirty randomly selected patients were reanalyzed for intraobserver and interobserver variability.
RESULTS: Compared with baseline, contrast echo increased feasibility for single-plane and biplane volume analysis from 87% to 100% and from 79% to 95%, respectively. The Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated volume underestimation by echo, but much less pronounced with contrast. Limits of agreement between echo and MRI narrowed significantly with contrast: from -18.1% to 8.3% to -7.7% to 4.1% (EF), from -98.2 to -11.7 ml to -59.0 to 10.7 ml (end-diastolic volume), and from -58.8 to 21.8 ml to -38.6 to 23.9 ml (end-systolic volume). Ejection fraction from precontrast echo and MRI differed by > or =10% (EF units) in 23 patients versus 0 after contrast (p < 0.001). At intraobserver and interobserver analysis, limits of agreement for EF narrowed significantly with contrast.
CONCLUSIONS: The two-dimensional echocardiographic evaluation of LV volumes and EF in non-selected cardiac patients was found to be more accurate and reproducible when adding an intravenous contrast agent.
Originalsprog | Engelsk |
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Tidsskrift | Journal of the American College of Cardiology |
Vol/bind | 44 |
Udgave nummer | 5 |
Sider (fra-til) | 1030-5 |
Antal sider | 6 |
ISSN | 0735-1097 |
DOI | |
Status | Udgivet - 1 sep. 2004 |
Udgivet eksternt | Ja |