DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF TISSUE DOPPLER IMAGING IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE AND ANGIOGRAPHICALLY NORMAL CORONARY ARTERIES

The aim of the study was to elaborate additional diagnostic criteria of systolic myocardial dysfunction in patients with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) and angiographically normal coronary arteries as compared to patients without structural cardiologic or other pathology, but with cardialgias. Local systolic myocardial function was evaluated by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). The ROC curve analysis revealed that a decreased average wall motion velocity less than 8.2 cm/sec may be an additional criterion of non-obstructive SCAD and may serve as a screening test for further invasive procedures.