Strain rate imaging after dynamic stress provides objective evidence of persistent regional myocardial dysfunction in ischaemic myocardium: regional stunning identified?

38 participants: 26 patients with coronary artery disease but no infarction (mean age 58.9, 23 men) and 12 age-matched controls with normal coronary arteriography and negative exercise test (mean age 56.1, 9 men).

Treadmill exercise (Bruce protocol) with Tissue Doppler echocardiography (strain rate imaging) at baseline, peak exercise, and up to one hour post-exercise

Age-matched controls with normal coronary arteriography and negative exercise test undergoing the same protocol

Changes in ultrasonic strain rate and strain (systolic and diastolic velocity, strain, and strain rate) after dynamic stresssurrogate