SEATTLE -- Research released at the 18th Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) and conducted at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb. found that real time perfusion echocardiography, a heart ultrasound technique that allows doctors to view the blood flow in the heart muscle, helped identify diabetics without symptoms who are at risk for coronary artery disease.

Traditional heart ultrasound continues to remain the best test for identifying many different abnormalities in the heart. However, being able to assess the blood flow within the heart muscle by using a contrast agent, in addition to defining abnormalities, would be a major breakthrough for diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases.

By looking at the structural abnormalities, pumping function of the heart and the blood flow within the heart muscle, a stress test using heart ultrasound with a contrast agent may allow doctors to diagnose and treat more diabetics with previously unknown blockages of the heart arteries.

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