Korean J Nucl Med.  2005 Apr;39(2):107-113.

Current Trends and Future Development in Pharmacologic Stress Testing

• Bae JH
• Lee J

Abstract

Pharmacologic stress testing for myocardial perfusion imaging is a widely used noninvasive method for the evaluation of known or suspected coronary artery disease. The use of exercise for cardiac stress has been practiced for over 60 years and clinicians are familiar with its using. However, there are inevitabe situations in which exercise stress is inappropriate. A large number of patients with cardiac problems are unable to exercise to their full potential due to comorbidity such as osteoarthritis, vascular disease and pulmonary disease and a standard exercise stress test for myocardial perfusion imaging is suboptimal means for assessment of coronary artery disease. This problem has led to the development of the pharmacologic stress test and to a great increase in its popularity. All of the currently used pharmacologic agents have well-documented diagnostic value. This review deals the physiological actions, clinical protocols, safety, nuclear imaging applications of currently available stress agents and future development of new vasodilating agents.

Keyword

Pharmacologic stress test; myocardial perfusion imaging; new vasodilating agents

MeSH Terms

Clinical Protocols
Comorbidity
Coronary Artery Disease
Exercise Test*
Humans
Lung Diseases
Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
Osteoarthritis
Vascular Diseases