Definition of Pharmacologic stress test Pharmacologic stress
test: There are a diversity of pharmacologic stress tests. Here
this refers specifically to a pharmacologic cardiac stress test
in which certain medications are administered that stimulate the
heart to mimic the physiologic effects of exercise. One of the
medications used in a pharmacologic stress test is dobutamine,
which is similar to adrenaline. Dobutamine is carefully
administered to gradually increase the heart rate and strength
of the contractions of the heart muscle. Simultaneously,
echocardiography or radionucleide imaging is performed.
Alternatively, a medicine called adenosine is administered,
which simulates the physiology of the coronary artery
circulation during exercise. Adenosine is combined with
radionucleide isotope imaging to provide a very accurate test
for the detection of significant coronary artery disease (CAD).
Pharmacological stress testing is commonly performed in patients
who are thought to be at high risk for significant