Background: Harmonic power Doppler imaging is a novel technique for the assessment of myocardial perfusion by contrast echocardiography. In this study, we examined whether myocardial contrast echocardiography using harmonic power Doppler and the new transvenous contrast agent SHU 563A can identify myocardial perfusion defects during coronary occlusion and reperfusion.
Methods: To assess the potential of this technique, we occluded either the left anterior descending coronary artery or the circumflex coronary artery for 2 to 3 h followed by 1 h reperfusion in 10 dogs in an open chest model. After transvenous administration of SHU 563A, an air-filled, polymeric contrast agent, myocardial contrast echocardiography was performed in short and long axis views with triggered harmonic power Doppler imaging after coronary occlusion and reperfusion. Post-mortem triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining was performed to verify infarction. Harmonic power Doppler and anatomic data were analyzed by independent observers.
Results: During coronary occlusion, harmonic power Doppler showed perfusion defects in all 10 dogs. The defect size in the short axis view at papillary muscle level ranged 4-51% (14+/-13%) and 3-43% (16+/-10%) in the long axis view (% total LV slice area). After reperfusion (1 h) and infusion of dipyridamole (0.56 mg/kg), power Doppler demonstrated perfusion defects in seven dogs: 0-20% (9+/-8%) (short axis view) and 0-48% (13+/-14%) (long axis view). Five dogs showed anatomic infarction. The anatomic infarct area was 0-18% (6+/-8%) (slices corresponding to the echocardiographic short axis images). Perfusion defect size by harmonic power Doppler correlated well with residual infarct size (r=0.82, P<0.01).
Conclusions: Myocardial contrast echocardiography using harmonic power Doppler and the new contrast agent SHU 563A accurately displays perfusion defects during acute coronary occlusion and after reperfusion. The site and size of residual myocardial infarction is reliably identified on line, in color. This approach has excellent potential for clinical application.