Determining the presence of viable myocardium has prognostic and therapeutic implications in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study was to assess the ability of dobutamine echocardiography (DE) to detect viable myocardium and predict the late improvement of regional left ventricular dysfunction after AMI.

Twenty-five patients (male 24, mean age 57±9.6) with AMI underwent DE (dobutamine: 0, 5, 10 and 20 microgramm/kg/min) in 4.8±2.2 days after infarction. Revascularization of infarct related artery was performed in 20 patients (percutaneous coronary angioplasty 18, coronary artery bypass graft surgery 2). A follow-up 2D-echocardiography was performed at 7.1±2.3 months after AMI.

1. Improvement of regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA) was observed in 12 patients during DE[DE (+) group]. Thirteen patients showed no improvement of RWMA[DE (-) group]. 2. In follow-up 2D-echocardiography 10 patients showed improvement of RWMA among DE (+) group (positive predictive value= 83.3%). Two patients showed improvement of RWMA among DE (-) group (negative predictive value=84.6%). Sensitivity and specificity of DE in predictiong late recovery of RWMA were 83.3% and 84.6% each. DE performed in the early stage of AMI seems to be useful in prediction of late recovery of regional left ventricular dysfunction.