Objectives We studied the value of lowdose adenosine stress echocardiography (LDASE) in early prediction of left ventricular functional recovery (LVFR) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods LDASE was performed in 79 patients 1 week after AMI treated with successful PCI. All patients underwent 2-dimensional echocardiography follow-up at 6 months.

Results LDASE showed a high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in predicting late regional functional recovery (86%, 83% and 81%, respectively). In LVFR group left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increased from 44% ± 9% at baseline to 57% ± 9% at 6 months (P < 0.001), whereas no significant improvement was found in no-LVFR group (from 40% ± 10% to 44% ± 12%; P = 0.06). A significant correlation was found between the number of LDASE-responder segments and the magnitude functional improvement in ejection fraction (r = 0.506; P <0.01).

Conclusions LDASE was an accurate predictor of late left ventricular regional and global function recovery after AMI, and provides a novel method of for the assessment of viable reversible myocardium after PCI.