Sign of wall motion abnormality observed in wall thickness change, excursion, and stroke volume obtained by M-mode: The parameter revealing wall motion abnormality in stress echocardiography (2)

Abstract

To improve the evaluation of regional wall motion abnormalities (WMA) during stress echocardiography, the parameters of the wall thickness change, excursion and stroke volume, with time-dependent changes in two regional portions of the interventricular septum and the posterior wall evaluated with M-mode ultrasonography are proposed. Response to the dipyridamole stress test was studied in two normal subjects and eight subjects with coronary disease. Regional wall motion and stroke volume were measured, and the results were compared with results obtained with coronary angiography, 2-D echography, and radioisotope scintigraphy. In normal subjects, these parameters showed only monotonous change with the passage of time. In patients with coronary artery disease, however, discrepancy in wall thickness and excursion between the interventricular septum and the posterior wall appeared within 1 to 3 minutes after the start of the test. Thus, despite the limitation of the examined area imposed by use of M-mode, the motion of the interventricular septum and the posterior wall described the details of WMA and an ischemic state.