Echocardiographic Septal Motion and Myocardial Perfusion in Patients with Significant Obstruction of the Left Anterior Descending Artery

This study assesses the relationship between segmental myocardial function and coronary perfusion in patients with high-grade stenosis of the left anterior descending artery. Twenty-five patients with critical lesions (> 70%) were divided into two groups according to the absence or presence of normal echocardiographic septal motion. Twelve patients had abnormal echocardiographic septal motion (AESM) and 13 patients had normal septal motion. Septal perfusion was evaluated by intracoronary injections of radiolabeled macroaggregated albumin (MAA) particles. Of the parameters analyzed abnormal septal perfusion was best related to AESM. Among the 12 patients with AESM, ten had absent resting septal perfusion. Of the 13 patients with normal septal