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Title: The cardiokymography exercise test compared to the thallium-201 perfusion exercise test in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease

Journal Article · · Am. Heart J.; (United States)

To determine the usefulness of exercise cardiokymography (CKG) compared to thallium-201 perfusion scanning in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD), 179 patients with a mean age of 54 +/- 10 years (73% men) were studied. Previously documented CAD was present in 73 patients (41%); 13 (7%) were asymptomatic and 93 (53%) had chest pain syndrome. Exercise stress testing, CKG, and thallium-201 perfusion scanning were independently correlated with coronary angiographic data. Treadmill exercise stress test alone without CKG had a sensitivity of 68% and specificity of 62%. CKG showed a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 90%, and easily interpreted cardiokymograms were obtained in 78% of patients studied. Thallium-201 scans had a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 88%. However, when the CKG and treadmill exercise test results were concordant (both positive or both negative), the CKG exercise test had a sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 100%. Thus, when the CKG and exercise test results are concordant, the sensitivity and specificity are equal to or better than thallium-201 perfusion scanning for the prediction of CAD. Since CKG is an inexpensive and noninvasive test, its adjunctive use with routine exercise stress testing may be of great value.

Research Organization:
Lankenau Medical Research Center, Philadelphia, PA
OSTI ID:
6850782
Journal Information:
Am. Heart J.; (United States), Vol. 107:4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English