Anterior lead ST-segment depression in inferior wall infarction. Early angiographic study. Effect on the results of intracoronary thrombolysis

Of 32 patients with inferior myocardial infarction undergoing coronary angiography in the first 6 hours for intracoronary streptokinase thrombolysis, 19 (Group I) had ST depression of more than 1 mm in the anterior chest wall leads (VI-V4) whilst 13 (Group II) had no ST changes in these leads. Quantitative analysis of left ventricular angiograph showed a significantly lower ejection fraction in Group I (52 +/- 8.5%) compared to Group II (59 +/- 8%, p less than 0.05) and that this difference was due to a greater zone of inferior wall hypokinesia, irrespective of whether this was assessed by measuring its surface area (HKS cm2: Gr I: 11 +/- 6, Gr II: 4 +/- 3, p less than 0.01) or percentage ventricular perimeter (HK%: Group I 45 +/- 15, Group II 26 +/- 12, p less than 0.001). On the other hand, anterior wall motion was normal in both groups. Coronary angiography showed proximal obstruction of the right coronary artery in 84% of patients in Group I. In Group II, the coronary obstruction tended to be distal or incomplete. The prevalence and average severity of associated stenosis of the left anterior descending artery were the same in both populations. The success rate of thrombolysis was not significantly different between the two groups. In successful procedures with a patent artery on the 14th day, improved regional contractility was only observed in Group I (HKS cm2: 11.5 +/- 6 vs 8 less than 4.4, p less than 0.05; HK%: 47 +/- 14 vs 38 +/- 9, p less than 0.05): the hypokinetic zone was unchanged in Group II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Involvement and function of the right ventricle in acute myocardial infarct. Hemodynamic, echocardiographic and angioscintigraphic correlations

To assess the acute effects of myocardial infarction on right ventricular function 22 patients were studied utilizing right heart catheterization, radionuclide angiography and two dimensional echocardiography. Thirteen patients had inferior myocardial infarction (Group I) and 9 anteroseptal or anterior (Group II). Hemodynamic findings suggesting right ventricular infarction were present in 3 patients of Group I. Mean radionuclide right ventricular ejection fraction was lower in inferior myocardial patients (38.2 +/- 7.6-Group I vs 50.3 +/- 11.4-Group II, p less than 0.005), while left ventricular ejection fraction in anteroseptal, and anterior myocardial infarction patients (36.8 +/- 10.5-Group II vs 55.9 +/- 7.6-Group I, p less than 0.001). Six patients in Group I presented a depressed radionuclide right ventricular ejection fraction (less than 40%): moreover right ventricular ejection fraction correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction in Group II (r = 0.79, p less than 0.001) but not in Group I (r = 0.55, p = NS). By mean of 2 dimensional echocardiography Group I patients had an increased right ventricular end diastolic area (15.3 +/- 3.8 vs 12.1 +/- 1.2 cm2, p less than 0.05) while Group II an increased right ventricular free wall motion (47.3 +/- 10.7 vs 32.4 +/- 14.1%, p less than 0.005); right ventricular end diastolic area correlated with right ventricular ejection fraction only in Group I (r = 0.60, p less than 0.05). Five patients in Group I and no patients in Group II had an enlarged right ventricular end diastolic area. Therefore, radionuclide and echocardiographic evidence of right ventricular involvement were not always associated with abnormal hemodynamics. Thus, the damaged right ventricular chamber dilates to allow an adequate stroke volume in presence of low ejection fraction; hemodynamic significant right ventricular myocardial infarction becomes evident only in patients with more severe right ventricular compromise; the increase in right ventricular free wall motion in anterior myocardial infarction patients compensates the loss of contribution of interventricular septum contraction.     

Value of noninvasive techniques for predicting early complications in patients with clinical class II acute myocardial infarction

Twenty-six consecutive patients with acute clinical class II myocardial infarction were prospectively evaluated to assess the ability of two-dimensional echocardiography and gated equilibrium radionuclide angiography to predict early morbidity and mortality. Within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, right heart catheterization, two-dimensional echocardiography and radionuclide angiography were performed. Serious in-hospital complications developed in 7 patients (27%, Group I), while the remaining 19 patients (Group II) had no complications. Mean left ventricular stroke work index was the only hemodynamic variable that differed significantly between Group I and Group II (28 +/- 8 [standard deviation] vs. 39 +/- 13 g-m/m2, respectively, p less than 0.02). Also, Group I compared with Group II had a significantly lower mean left ventricular ejection fraction by two-dimensional echocardiography (26 +/- 5 vs. 51 +/- 10%, p less than 0.001) or by radionuclide angiography (29 +/- 9 vs. 46 +/- 12%, p less than 0.001). Similarly, Group I had a higher average wall motion index than Group II by both techniques (2.2 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.3, p less than 0.001 by two-dimensional echocardiography, and 2.1 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.3, p less than 0.001 by radionuclide angiography). Selected stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that left ventricular ejection fraction or wall motion index, by two-dimensional echocardiography or radionuclide angiography, had additional value to a history of prior myocardial infarction for predicting in-hospital complications in patients with class II infarction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Clinical features of patients with spontaneous recanalization of the infarct-related artery during evolving acute myocardial infarction

The clinical features of 124 patients with incompletely obstructed infarct-related arteries during the early stages of myocardial infarction (Group 1) were compared with those of 212 patients having completely occluded coronary arteries (Group 2). Coronary angiography was performed within 12 hours after onset of symptoms in all cases. Patients treated with emergency coronary angioplasty were excluded from the study. Thrombolytic therapy, performed in both groups whenever intracoronary thrombi were detected, was successful in 61% of Group 2. Results were as follows: 1. In Group 1, three-vessel disease was observed more frequently than one-vessel disease (49 vs 27%, p less than 0.005). 2. The peak level of CPK was higher in Group 2 (p less than 0.001), and left ventricular ejection fraction was higher in Group 1 (66 +/- 16 vs 56 +/- 14%, p less than 0.01). 3. Either significant ST elevation or the Q wave was more commonly absent in Group 1 (31 vs 12%, p less than 0.01; 49 vs 12%, p less than 0.001). 4. Improvement of ejection fraction was observed in Group 1, but not in Group 2 even if the infarct-related artery was recanalized within six hours. 5. Extension of an infarct area was more common in Group 1 compared to Group 2 which was successfully treated with thrombolytic therapy (12 vs 3.9%, p less than 0.05). 6. The most important cause of death was extension of an infarct area in Group 1 and pump failure in Group 2, though hospital mortality rates were similar in both groups. It was concluded that patients with myocardial infarction having incompletely obstructed infarct-related coronary arteries have better left ventricular function and higher rates of non-Q myocardial infarction compared with those who had completely obstructed coronary arteries. However, extensions of infarcted areas commonly occur in these patients.     

Clinical and prognostic importance of persistent precordial (V1-V4) electrocardiographic ST segment depression in patients with inferior transmural myocardial infarction

Forty-three consecutive patients with acute inferior transmural myocardial infarction but no history or electrocardiographic evidence of prior myocardial infarction were evaluated prospectively to assess the clinical and prognostic importance of persistent precordial (V1-V4) ST segment depression. Patients were evaluated within 24 hr of admission by history, physical examination, cardiac enzyme levels, right heart catheterization, and radionuclide angiography; all were followed for 1 year. Ten of the 43 patients (group I) had persistent anterior precordial ST segment depression, defined as 1 mm or greater in one or more precordial leads (V1-V4) 24 hr after admission to the coronary care unit, and 33 patients (group II) did not. Clinical variables that differed between groups I and II, respectively, included mean age (67 +/- 9 [+/- 1 SD] vs 59 +/- 8 years; p less than .01), incidence of Killip class II to IV (100% vs 33%; p less than .001), and average peak creatine kinase concentration (2878 +/- 1139 vs 1511 +/- 1034 IU/liter; p less than .001). Hemodynamic differences between groups I and II included a higher pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (19 +/- 4 vs 11 +/- 5 mm Hg; p less than .001) and a lower cardiac index (2.0 +/- 0.5 vs 2.6 +/- 0.7 liters/min/m2; p less than .05). An evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction and wall motion index by radionuclide angiography showed that group I had a lower ejection fraction (44 +/- 11% vs 53 +/- 10%; p less than .05) and higher wall motion index (1.7 +/- 0.4 vs 1.4 +/- 0.3; p less than .05) compared with group II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Anterolateral ST segment depression in acute inferior myocardial infarction: angiographic and clinical implications

We examined the relationship between coronary anatomy and anterolateral ST segment depression during inferior acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in 84 consecutive survivors of inferior AMI, who underwent prospective coronary angiography a median time of 2 weeks after AMI. Multivessel disease was defined as two or more significantly (greater than 70%) stenosed vessels. A QRS scoring system was used to estimate myocardial infarct size. Patients with ST depression had more multivessel disease compared to patients with no ST depression (53% vs 6%, p less than 0.01), more left anterior descending stenoses (36% vs 10% p less than 0.05), and higher QRS scores (5.8 +/- 3.2 vs 2.6 +/- 1.8, p less than 0.01) indicating larger infarcts. Patients with ST depression and one-vessel disease (47%) still had higher QRS scores compared to patients with no ST depression (4.8 +/- 2.9 vs 2.6 +/- 1.8, p less than 0.001) and had an increased prevalence of infarct-related vessels with a terminal branch supplying the left ventricular lateral wall or apex. We conclude that anterolateral ST depression during inferior AMI may indicate the presence of additionally stenosed vessels or that the infarct-related vessel has a large vascular territory. The absence of ST depression virtually precludes multivessel disease.     

Clinical significance of symptomatic and silent myocardial ischemia during exercise test in patients with effort angina pectoris--investigation of hemodynamic responses during supine ergometer exercise test

Thirty one patients with stable effort angina who had no prior myocardial infarctions underwent symptom-limited ergometer exercise test. Hemodynamic responses during exercise were assessed to determine whether or not the limiting symptoms were related to the severity of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia. Twenty-two subjects (Group I) were limited by angina and nine (Group II) were limited by other symptoms. There were no differences in age, sex distribution, prevalence of diabetes mellitus, and left ventricular ejection fraction between the two groups. Multivessel coronary artery diseases, however, were more frequent in group I (16/22 vs 3/9: p less than 0.05). Maximal work load (46.6 +/- 16.0 vs 62.5 +/- 13.4 W: p less than 0.05), exercise duration (4.7 +/- 2.0 vs 7.2 +/- 1.4 min: p less than 0.005), and maximal oxygen consumption (12.4 +/- 4.1 vs 19.3 +/- 3.3 ml/kg/min: p less than 0.005) were significantly lower in group I. The magnitude of ST depression was not different between the two groups (2.0 +/- 0.8 vs 1.8 +/- 0.7 mm: NS). At maximal exercise, heart rate, mean blood pressure, cardiac index, and stroke work index (SWI) were significantly lower in group I (p less than 0.05) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was significantly higher in group I (31.1 +/- 6.1 vs 25.1 +/- 5.6 mmHg: p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Congestive heart failure with intact systolic function

A retrospective study was undertaken of the cases of patients admitted for congestive cardiac failure over a 4 year period, and investigated by radionuclide angiography to determine the prevalence of cardiac failure with normal left ventricular systolic function, to document the underlying mechanisms of this condition and to assess whether the clinical data could predict the presence or absence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction. After excluding patients with significant valvular disease, severe renal failure, or myocardial infarction in the previous 2 months, the study population comprised 152 patients divided into 2 groups: Group I (N = 112) with abnormal systolic function (radionuclide ejection fraction less than 45%) and Group II (N = 40) with normal systolic function (radionuclide ejection fraction greater than or equal to 45%). The clinical, echocardiographic and radionuclide angiographic data was analysed (global ejection fraction in both groups and peak filling rate in Group II). The patients in Group II (26% of the total study population) were older (66.5 +/- 12.4 vs 61.3 +/- 12.3 years, p less than or equal to 0.02), were more often female (35% vs 17.9%, p less than or equal to 0.02), had acute cardiac failure (75% vs 37%, p less than 0.00001), and were frequently hypertensive (65% vs 39%, p less than or equal to 0.005). Univariate analysis of clinical and radiological signs did not show any significant difference between the two groups except for increased jugular venous pressure and cardiomegaly which were more common in Group I (56% vs 25%, p less than 0.00001 and 93% vs 68%, p less than or equal to 0.00001, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Exercise testing in asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic aortic regurgitation: relationship of left ventricular ejection fraction to left ventricular filling pressure during exercise

Exercise radionuclide angiography is being used to evaluate left ventricular function in patients with aortic regurgitation. Ejection fraction is the most common variable analyzed. To better understand the rest and exercise ejection fraction in this setting, 20 patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic severe aortic regurgitation were studied. All underwent simultaneous supine exercise radionuclide angiography and pulmonary gas exchange measurement and underwent rest and exercise measurement of pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) during cardiac catheterization. Eight patients had a peak exercise PAWP less than 15 mm Hg (group 1) and 12 had a peak exercise PAWP greater than or equal to 15 mm Hg (group 2). Group 1 patients were younger and more were in New York Heart Association class I. Group 1 patients also had a higher mean rest ejection fraction (0.64 +/- 0.08 vs 0.49 +/- 0.13, p less than 0.01, higher exercise ejection fraction (0.63 +/- 0.10 vs 0.40 +/- 0.18, p less than 0.01), lower end-systolic volume (38 +/- 13 vs 79 +/- 36 ml/m2, p less than 0.01) and higher peak oxygen uptake (24.9 +/- 5.1 vs 16.6 +/- 4.9 ml/kg/min, p less than 0.01) than group 2 patients. However, the two groups had similar cardiothoracic ratios, changes in ejection fractions with exercise, and rest and exercise regurgitant indexes. Using multiple regression analysis, the best correlate of the exercise PAWP was peak oxygen uptake (r = -0.78, p less than 0.01). No other measurement added significantly to the regression. When peak oxygen uptake was excluded, rest and exercise ejection fraction also correlated significantly (r = -0.62 and r = -0.60, respectively, p less than 0.01). Patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic severe aortic regurgitation have a wide spectrum of cardiac performance in terms of the PAWP during exercise. The absolute rest and exercise ejection fraction and the level of exercise achieved are noninvasive variables that correlate with exercise PAWP in aortic regurgitation, but the change in ejection fraction with exercise by itself is not.     

ST segment response to acute coronary occlusion: coronary hemodynamic and angiographic determinants of direction of ST segment shift

To assess the relationship between the direction of ST segment response to transient coronary occlusion and collateral function, we studied 25 patients with diagnostic ST segment changes during transient occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD). Electrocardiographic leads I, II, V2, and V5; left ventricular filling, aortic, and distal coronary pressures; and great cardiac vein flow were measured during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of the LAD. During a 1 min LAD balloon occlusion, 16 patients had reversible ST elevation (group I) and nine patients had ST depression (group II). The ST responses in individual patients were consistent during repeated occlusions, and ST depression never preceded ST elevation. Angiography before PTCA showed less severe LAD stenosis in group I (69 +/- 15%) than in group II (88 +/- 10%; p less than .01) and collateral filling of the LAD in no group I patient but in six of nine patients in group II (p less than .01). During LAD occlusion, determinants of myocardial oxygen demand (left ventricular filling pressure, aortic pressure, heart rate, and double product) were similar in both groups. Group I patients, however, had lower distal coronary pressure (25 +/- 8 vs 41 +/- 16 mm Hg) and residual great cardiac vein flow (33 +/- 14 vs 51 +/- 22 ml/min) and higher coronary collateral resistance (3.1 +/- 2.1 vs 1.5 +/- 0.8 mm Hg/ml/min) than group II patients (all p less than .05). In patients with ST elevation during LAD occlusion, stenosis before PTCA was less severe, visible collaterals were not present, and hemodynamic variables during LAD occlusion reflected poorer collateral function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Value of the negative U wave during exercise test in the diagnosis of coronary insufficiency

In order to determine the value of inversion of the U wave during exercise for the diagnosis of coronary insufficiency, the stress tests of 227 patients were reviewed and confronted with the results of coronary angiography which showed 93 subjects with angiographically normal arteries and 134 subjects with left anterior descending disease; 37 patients had single vessel disease (Group I), 38 had double vessel disease (Group II) and 59 had triple vessel disease (Group III). When compared to the two classical criteria, anginal pain and less than or equal to 1 mm ST depression, inversion of the U wave was more specific: 82.8 +/- 7.6 p. 100 vs 77.4 p. 100 for anginal pain, and 66.7 +/- 9.6 p. 100 for ST depression. The sensitivity of this new sign for the detection of coronary insufficiency was 26.9 +/- 7.5 p. 100 vs 80.6 +/- 6.7 p. 100 for ST depression and 56.7 +/- 8.4 p. 100 for anginal pain. The positive predictive value of U wave inversion on effort was 70.9 +/- 12 p. 100 compared to 77.7 +/- 6.9 p. 100 for ischaemic ST depression and 78.3 +/- 8.2 p. 100 for induced anginal pain. Conversely, in angiographically normal coronary arteries, the absence of U wave inversion had a negative predictive value of 44.8 +/- 7.4 p. 100 compared to 70.5 +/- 9.5 p. 100 for the absence of ischaemic ST changes and 55.4 +/- 8.5 for the absence of anginal pain. These results confirm previously published data.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

ST-segment depression in inferior ECG leads during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for left anterior descending artery

The mechanism of inferior ST depression during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was studied in 108 patients with isolated LAD lesion. In 49 patients (Group I) ST depression in inferior leads was observed, and 59 patients (Group II) showed no inferior ST depression. In the lateral lead (I or a VL), the incidence (43 cases; 88% vs. 5 cases; 9%) and degree (1.5 +/- 0.8 mm vs. 0.2 +/- 0.4) of ST elevation were significantly greater in Group I than in Group II. There was a significant inverse correlation (r = -0.57, p less than 0.01) between ST depression in the inferior lead and ST elevation in the lateral lead, but no correlation was found between anterior leads (V2-4) and the inferior leads. Elevation of diastolic pressure of the pulmonary artery (8.7 +/- 4.8 vs. 5.7 +/- 2.8 mmHg) and lowering of systolic pressure of the femoral artery (-25.7 +/- 24.3 vs. -11.8 +/- 8.3 mmHg) were significantly greater in Group I. These findings suggest that ST depression in the inferior leads during LAD angioplasty was due to a purely electrical phenomenon and not to the concomitant ischemia of the inferior wall. However, this change was more frequently seen in patients with larger myocardial ischemia and, presumably, was more often related to ST elevation in the lateral lead, which is reciprocal in position.     

Anterior ST depression in inferior myocardial infarction: correlation with results of intracoronary thrombolysis

Thirty-eight patients underwent left ventricular angiography and coronary arteriography within the first 6 hours of inferior myocardial infarction, in an attempt at intracoronary thrombolysis with streptokinase. Twenty-three of these patients presented with ST segment depression of more than 1 mm on the anterior leads (V1 to V4) of ECGs done immediately before the attempt at thrombolysis (group I), whereas 15 did not (group II). Quantitative analysis of left ventricular angiography showed an ejection fraction significantly lower in group I (51 +/- 10%) than in group II (59 +/- 7%; p less than 0.01). This difference was the result of inferior hypokinesia which was larger both in surface area (group I = 11.5 +/- 6.5 cm2; group II = 4.2 +/- 2.7 cm2; p less than 0.001) and in percentage of ventricular perimeter (group I = 46 +/- 14%; group II = 27 +/- 12%; p less than 0.001). The prevalence of a left anterior descending artery lesion and the degree of stenosis were the same in both groups. The success rate of thrombolysis was not significantly different. However, in cases of persistent success, there was an improvement of regional contraction only in group I, as opposed to absence of change in group II. These results suggest that patients with inferior myocardial infarction and ST anterior depression have an extensive ischemic area rather than anterior wall ischemia. An attempt at coronary thrombolysis seems to be worthwhile only in these patients, as it results in appreciable myocardial salvage when successful.     

Prognostic value of profound ST segment depression during treadmill stress test in coronary heart disease: nine years follow-up study.

To define the prognostic significance of profound ST segment depression (greater than or equal to 3mm) during exercise test, 106 patients of definite coronary heart disease enrolled in a prospective study were followed for up to 9 years. Group A (56 patients) had profound (greater than or equal to 3mm) ST segment depression (3.56 +/- 0.74mm) and Group B (50 patients) had less than 3mm ST segment depression (1.23 +/- 0.35mm, P less than 0.01) during treadmill testing. Group A patients tolerated exercise for a lesser duration in comparison to group B patients (7.22 +/- 3.35 vs. 10.18 + 4.07 minutes, p less than 0.01). At the end of the study, 21 (37.5%) group A patients either died or underwent coronary artery bypass surgery as compared to 8 (16.0%) group B patients (p = 0.02). The difference in the incidence of cardiac deaths between the two groups was not statistically significant (19.6% in group A and 14.0% in group B). However, sudden deaths were significantly more common in group A as compared to group B patients (10 of 11 (90.9%) vs 4 of 7 (57.1%), p = 0.02). These data suggest that profound ST segment depression (greater than 3mm) during treadmill stress test indicates an adverse long term prognosis with the risk in particular, of sudden cardiac death.     

Persistent ST segment depression in precordial leads V5-V6 after Q-wave anterior wall myocardial infarction is associated with restrictive physiology of the left ventricle

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between the persistence of ST segment depression in leads V5-V6 after Q-wave anterior wall myocardial infarction (MI) and the filling pattern of the left ventricle (LV). BACKGROUND: Precordial ST segment depression predominantly in leads V5-V6 is associated with increased in-hospital morbidity and mortality after acute myocardial ischemia, perhaps due to reduced diastolic distensibility of the LV. METHODS: We prospectively studied 19 patients after Q-wave anterior wall MI (>6 months). All patients underwent 12-lead ECG recording, symptom-limited treadmill exercise testing with single photon emission computed tomography thallium-201 imaging, transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, cardiac catheterization and measurement of circulating atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. Patients were classified based on the presence of ST segment depression in leads V5-V6: Group I = ST segment depression <0.1 mV (n = 10); Group II = ST segment depression > or =0.1 mV (n = 9). RESULTS: Patients in Group II had greater LV end diastolic pressures (32.4 +/- 6.5 mm Hg vs. 14.8 +/- 6.1 mm Hg; p = 0.0001), higher plasma ANP (44.4 +/- 47.1 pg/ml vs. 10.7 +/- 14 pg/ml; p = 0.04) and BNP levels (89.4 +/- 62.7 pg/ml vs. 23.6 +/- 33.1 pg/ml; p = 0.01), greater left atrium area (20.6 +/- 3.1 cm2 vs. 17.8 +/- 2.4 cm2; p = 0.05), lower peak atrial (A), higher early (E) mitral inflow velocities, a higher E/A ratio and a lower deceleration time (167 +/- 44 ms vs. 220 +/- 40 ms; p = 0.05). Lung thallium uptake during exercise was more common in Group II (78% vs. 10%, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Persistent ST segment depression in leads V5-V6 in survivors of Q-wave anterior wall MI is associated with increased LV filling pressure and a restrictive LV filling pattern.     

Right ventricular function during the convalescence phase of posterior primary infarction

Right ventricular extension is very common in inferior myocardial infarction and the resulting haemodynamic changes are well documented. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the consequences on regional and global right ventricular function at a distance from the initial episode. The study population included 32 patients (29 men and 3 women; mean age 52.7 +/- 6 years) admitted consecutively to the coronary care unit for acute inferior wall myocardial infarction with right ventricular extension (group A: 14 patients) or without (group B: 18 patients), based on the initial haemodynamic data. All patients underwent right and left cardiac catheterisation with selective biplane right and left ventriculography and coronary angiography, 2.9 +/- 1 months after the acute episode. In group A, there was a normalisation of the haemodynamic changes observed during the acute phase of myocardial infarction, complete occlusion (10 cases) or a significant residual stenosis (3 cases) of the right coronary artery proximal or immediately distal to the right marginal artery and persistence of an alteration of global right ventricular systolic function when compared with group B (increased end systolic volume: RVESV = 43 +/- 11 ml/m2 vs 35 +/- 9 ml/m2, p less than 0.02, and a decreased ejection fraction: RVEF = 49 +/- 7 p. 100 vs 57 +/- 9 p. 100, p less than 0.01, resulting from hypokinesia or akinesia of the right ventricular inferior wall; mean shortening delta R = 11 +/- 6 p. 100 vs 17 +/- 7 p. 100, p less than 0.01.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Mechanisms for left ventricular systolic dysfunction in aortic regurgitation: importance for predicting the functional response to aortic valve replacement

To test the hypothesis that the combined use of the time-varying elastance concept and conventional circumferential stress-shortening relations would elucidate differential mechanisms for left ventricular systolic dysfunction in severe, chronic aortic regurgitation and therefore predict the functional responses to aortic valve replacement, 31 control patients and 37 patients with aortic regurgitation were studied. The studies included micromanometer left ventricular pressure determinations, biplane contrast cineangiograms under control conditions and radionuclide angiograms under control conditions and during methoxamine or nitroprusside infusions with right atrial pacing. The patients with aortic regurgitation were classified into three groups: Group I had normal Emax and stress-shortening relations, Group II had abnormal Emax but normal stress-shortening relations and Group III had abnormal Emax and stress-shortening relations. The left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes showed a progressive increase and the ejection fraction showed a progressive decrease from Group I to III; these values differed from those in the control patients (p less than 0.001). In Group I, there was a decrease in left ventricular volumes (p less than 0.05) but no significant change in ejection fraction (61 +/- 7% versus 63 +/- 4%) after aortic valve replacement. In contrast, in Group II, reduction in left ventricular volumes (p less than 0.01) was associated with an increase in ejection fraction from 50 +/- 8% to 64 +/- 11% (p less than 0.01). Finally, in Group III, reduction in left ventricular volumes (p less than 0.05) was associated with a further decrement in ejection fraction from 35 +/- 13% to 30 +/- 13%. Group I patients had compensated adequately for chronic volume overload. However, Group II had left ventricular dysfunction that was associated with an increase in the left ventricular volume/mass ratio compared with that in the control patients and Group I (p less than 0.05 for both), suggesting inadequate hypertrophy and assumption of spherical geometry. Finally, irreversible myocardial dysfunction had supervened in Group III. In conclusion, a combined analysis of left ventricular chamber performance using the time-varying elastance concept and myocardial performance using conventional circumferential stress-shortening relations provides complementary information that elucidates differential mechanisms for left ventricular systolic dysfunction and therefore predicts the functional response to aortic valve replacement.     

Aortic stenosis with low preoperative ejection fraction. Long-term postoperative hemodynamic and angiographic studies

Twenty-two patients underwent aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis with a preoperative ejection fraction less than 45%. Three patients died peroperatively and a fourth patient died 18 months later before the haemodynamic control. The other 18 patients were systematically reinvestigated, on average 16 months after surgery. Sixteen had a remarkable functional improvement and a significant increase in ejection fraction at haemodynamic control: 32 +/- 6% to 61 +/- 8%, p less than 0.001. They were surgical successes (Group I). In this group, the 7 patients with the most severe alteration of ventricular function and an average ejection fraction of: 26 +/- 3%, also improved to near normal function with a postoperative fraction of 62 +/- 11%. There was no significant improvement of the ejection fraction in 2 patients, and they were classified with the fatalities as surgical failures (Group II). The clinical, electrocardiographic, radiological, haemodynamic and angiographic data of these two populations were compared to try and identify preoperative indices of prognostic value. Only the angiographic left ventricular myocardial mass index (LVMI) was significantly higher in Group II (253 +/- 98 g/m2) than in Group I (156 +/- 56 g/m2, p less than 0.05). A discriminating analysis showed that the most important parameters to separate the 2 groups of patients were the LVMI and the thickness of the left ventricular wall. The marked increase of the postoperative ejection fraction in 3/4 of our patients confirmed the clinical value of valvular replacement justifying the indication for surgery in patients with severe aortic stenosis in spite of a severe alteration of left ventricular function.     

Inferior ST segment depression during acute anterior myocardial infarction: clinical and angiographic correlations

This study was performed to determine whether inferior ST segment depression during early stages of acute transmural anterior myocardial infarction identifies patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and additional inferior ischemia. Coronary and left ventricular angiography were performed within 3.4 months in 33 patients with acute transmural anterior infarction. Initial electrocardiograms, 2 to 5 hours after onset of chest pain, revealed significant ST segment depression (greater than or equal to 0.1 mV) in at least two of leads II, III and a VF in 15 patients (45%) (group B); in 18 patients (group A) this finding was absent. Compared with group A, patients in group B had greater anterior ST elevation (1.2 versus 0.7 mV, p less than 0.025); higher serum peak creatine kinase (2,475 versus 1,147 IU/liter, p less than 0.005); higher Killip scores (2.1 versus 1.3, p less than 0.001); more in-hospital complications (60 versus 17%, p less than 0.05); lower mean left ventricular ejection fraction (34 versus 55%, p less than 0.001); more frequent regional left ventricular dysfunction in anterolateral (91 versus 44%, p less than 0.05), posterolateral (36 versus 0%, p less than 0.05) and inferior (100 versus 6%, p less than 0.005) regions; greater wall motion abnormality scores (10.0 versus 5.5, p less than 0.005); higher frequency of concomitant left circumflex or right coronary artery disease, or both (80 versus 28%, p less than 0.01); more frequent postinfarction angina (100 versus 39%, p less than 0.001) and lower New York Heart Association functional classification scores (1.7 versus 2.4, p less than 0.05) at 6 month follow-up. The time course of inferior ST depression differed from that of anterior ST elevation. Thus, inferior ST depression was maximal in the first 48 hours and decreased (p less than 0.05) thereafter. In contrast, ST elevation in leads V1 to V6 and I appeared to decrease (p = NS) between days 4 and 7. However, inferior ST depression "mirrored" ST elevation in lead aVL, which also decreased (p less than 0.05) after 48 hours. Thus, inferior ST depression during anterior infarction is associated with more extensive infarction, greater morbidity and higher frequency of multivessel coronary disease. Such inferior ST depression might reflect not only "reciprocal change," but also ischemia in adjacent lateral and remote inferior regions.     

Effect of spontaneous reperfusion on myocardial infarct size

The effect of perfusion of the infarct artery on myocardial infarct size was studied in 39 patients who had not received interventive therapy. At predischarge coronary angiography, 19 patients had subtotal and 20 total occlusion of the infarct artery. The early ST-segment elevation recorded on a 12-lead electrocardiogram was used as an index of the amount of initially jeopardized myocardium. Infarct size was estimated by peak serum creatine kinase and, at discharge, by a QRS score, sigma Q and sigma R on a 12-lead electrocardiogram, and by radionuclide global and infarct segment left ventricular ejection fraction. Despite a similar degree of initial ischemia (sigma ST), infarct size was smaller in the 11 patients with anterior infarction and subtotal occlusion than in the 9 patients with anterior infarction and total occlusion when measured by peak serum creatine kinase (2114 +/- 1192 U/l vs. 3653 +/- 1059 U/l, p less than 0.02), QRS score (5.0 +/- 2.7 vs. 9.6 +/- 3.5, p less than 0.01), sigma Q (3.25 +/- 2.74 mV vs. 5.92 +/- 3.56 mV, p less than 0.10), sigma R (4.36 +/- 1.25 mV vs. 2.16 +/- 0.91 mV, p less than 0.001), global left ventricular ejection fraction (45.0 +/- 12.2% vs. 33.4 +/- 6.7%, p less than 0.05), and infarct segment ejection fraction (40.4 +/- 8.2% vs. 30.3 +/- 5.4%, p less than 0.05). In the inferior infarct patients, both the degree of initial ischemia and final infarct size were similar in the 8 patients with subtotal and in the 11 patients with total occlusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)