OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility, safety and accuracy of dobutamine/atropine stress echocardiography (DASE) for the detection of coronary artery desease (CAD) in renal transplant candidates. METHODS: Patients candidates to renal transplant were submitted consecutively to DASE and coronary angiography. The adopted angiographic criteria for CAD were an obstructive lesion of > 50% and > 70%. RESULTS: 148 patients underwent the DASE and the coronary angiography. Mean age was 52 ± 9 years, 69% of the patients were males; 27% had diabetic nephropathy and 73% had LVH; 63% were asymptomatic; 36% and 22% presented coronary obstructions > 50% and 70%, respectively. The DASE performance was 91% and major complication rate was 2.7%. The sensibility, specificity and accuracy for the diagnosis of coronary obstruction > 50% were 53% (CI:45-61), 87% (CI:81-93), and 75% (CI:63-83) respectively. For coronary obstruction > 70% these values were, respectively, 71% (CI:64-92), 85% (CI:79-91) and 81% (CI:75-87). The sensibility to detect univessel and multivessel disease was 41% (CI:19-63) and 78% (CI:64-92), respectively. CONCLUSION: The DASE was practical and safe; however, it presented a poor result for the detection of CAD regarding obstructions > 50%. It can be a useful screening for the detection of CAD in candidates with obstructions > 70% and multivessel disease.
Stress echocardiography; coronary artery disease; chronic renal failure
