J Cardiovasc Ultrasound.  2014 Dec;22(4):173-179. 10.4250/jcu.2014.22.4.173.

Role of Echocardiography in the Management of Cardiac Disease in Women

• Shim WJ

• KMID: 1980419
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4250/jcu.2014.22.4.173

Abstract

The widespread use of echocardiography has contributed to the early recognition of several distinct cardiac diseases in women. During pregnancy, safe monitoring of the disease process, as well as a better understanding of hemodynamics, is possible. During the use of potentially cardiotoxic drugs for breast cancer chemotherapy, echocardiographic patient monitoring is vital. Compared to men, the addition of an imaging modality to routine electrocardiogram monitoring during stress testing is more informative for diagnosing coronary disease in women. This review briefly discusses the role of echocardiography in the management of several women-specific cardiac diseases where echocardiography plays a pivotal role in disease management.

Keyword

Echocardiography; Women; Peripartum cardiomyopathy; Coronary heart disease; Cardiotoxicity

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms
Coronary Disease
Disease Management
Drug Therapy
Echocardiography*
Electrocardiography
Exercise Test
Female
Heart Diseases*
Hemodynamics
Humans
Male
Monitoring, Physiologic
Pregnancy

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Spherically shaped end-systolic left ventricle in a 50-year-old woman, with diminished left ventricular systolic function, after treatment with 360 mg of doxorubicin (A: before treatment, B: after treatment).

• 

  Fig. 2 Example of inducible left ventricular outflow obstruction after dobutamine infusion.

• 

  Fig. 3 American Heart Association proposed algorithm for evaluating symptomatic women using noninvasive tests.47) CVA: cerebrovascular accident, ECG: electrocardiogram, EF: ejection fraction, ETT: exercise treadmill test, LBBB: left branch bundle block, LV: left ventricular, Rx: prescription, TM: treadmill.

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