非梗死相关导联ST段压低预测AMI再灌注治疗长期预后的价值

目的 探讨持续性非梗死相关导联(NIRL)ST段压低对AMI再灌注治疗长期预后的价值。方法根据183例AMI溶栓和(或)PCI术后冠脉再灌注后有无NIRL持续性ST段压低情况，将患者分为两组：组1：持续性ST段压低组54例；组2：一过性ST段压低或无ST段压低组129例。分析NIRL持续性ST段压低对AMI再灌注后12～50个月(平均26个月)的心血管事件发生率(心绞痛、AMI、PCI术、冠脉搭桥)、死亡率及生存率的影响。结果 持续性的ST段压低组与一过性ST段压低或无ST段压低组心血管事件发生率分别为：心绞痛40．7％与12．4％；AMI22．5％与4．7％；PCI18．5％与6．2％；冠脉搭桥5．6％与1．6％(P=0．0001)。总死亡率分别为38．9％与11．6％(P=O．0001)。生存率分别为：59．6％与87．7％(P=O．0001)。结论 AMI患者再灌注后NIRL持续性ST段压低者，心血管事件发生率高、死亡率高、生存率低，它是预测AMI患者再灌注治疗长期预后的重要指标，它对临床确定AMI再灌注治疗后患者近期和远期的疾病转归具有潜在的重要价值。     

C-反应蛋白对ST段抬高型急性心肌梗死溶栓疗效的预测作用

目的:探讨C 反应蛋白(CRP)对ST段抬高型急性心肌梗死(AMI)静脉溶栓疗效的作用。方法:31例 ST段抬高型AMI患者根据静脉溶栓前血清CRP水平分为3组,比较静脉溶栓后2 h内ST段回落、10 d后冠状动脉造影示梗死相关血管血流TIMI分级及冠状动脉病变情况,筛选影响静脉溶栓的因子,评估 2 h内 ST段回落与10 d后冠状动脉造影示梗死相关血管血流 TIMI分级的相关性。结果:静脉溶栓前血清 CRP浓度越高,溶栓后2 h内ST段回落≥50%和冠状动脉造影所示梗死相关血管血流达到TIMI 3及的越少(P<0.05),冠状动脉多支病变增多(P<0.05)。2 h内ST段回落与10 d后冠状动脉造影示梗死相关血管血流 TIMI分级具有相关性( r=0.42,P<0.05)。结论:CRP是影响静脉溶栓成功的因子之一,静脉溶栓前血清CRP浓度升高可能影响静脉溶栓的疗效。     

急性下壁心肌梗死心电图aVR导联ST段压低的临床意义

目的:评价急性下壁心肌梗死(MI)患者心电图aVR导联ST段压低的临床意义。方法:43例急性下壁MI患者根据有无aVR导联ST段压低分为2组,并分析其临床情况。结果:ST段压低组肌酸激酶及肌酸激酶同工酶峰值浓度明显高于非ST段压低组[(47.25±25.42)∶(25.50±15.46)mmol/L,P<0.01;(2.82±1.99)∶(1.80±0.86)mmol/L,P<0.05,ST段压低组患者并发后壁MI比例亦明显高于非ST段压低组(56%∶9%,P<0.01)。结论:急性下壁MI心电图aVR导联ST段压低提示梗死面积较大,累及下侧壁或后壁;且有助于并发后壁MI的诊断。     

心电图aVR导联ST段改变对急性心肌梗死的预测价值及临床意义

目的探讨心电图aVR导联ST段的改变对急性心肌梗死(AMI)患者梗死相关血管的预测价值及临床意义。方法收集2014年1~10月入住该院心内科的214例AMI患者的临床资料,均符合2010年中华医学会心血管病分会制定的AMI诊断标准,对所有患者入院后进行十二导联心电图检查,并于患者入院1 w内行冠状动脉造影术判定梗死相关血管。结果心电图aVR导联ST段抬高组及压低组患者单支血管病变的发生率低于未偏移组,三支血管病变的发生率高于未偏移组;抬高组左前降支近段及左主干病变比例明显高于其他两组患者;压低组右冠状动脉支及左回旋支病变比例明显高于其他两组。抬高组及压低组患者不良心血管事件发生率均高于未偏移组。结论心电图aVR导联ST段的抬高或者压低对AMI患者梗塞相关血管的数量、血管的部位及住院期间不良心血管事件发生率均具有重要的预测意义。     

老年急性心肌梗死患者溶栓后补救性冠状动脉介入治疗的临床研究

目的　评价老年急性ST段抬高性心肌梗死患者,在急诊静脉溶栓治疗后,对于梗死相关冠状动脉未能有效开通的病例,进行补救性冠状动脉介入治疗。方法　≥70岁急性ST段抬高的心肌梗死(ST segmentelevationacutemyocardialinfarction ,STE AMI)患者5 2例(≥70岁组) ,在急诊静脉溶栓治疗后若判定梗死相关动脉未能有效开通,则即行冠状动脉造影,若造影显示梗死相关动脉血流为非TIMI 3级灌注、同时患者仍有较明显胸痛和(或)梗死对应心电图导联ST段抬高,并除外急诊冠状动脉介入治疗的禁忌证,即进行梗死相关冠状动脉的补救性介入治疗(包括球囊扩张、支架置入)。同时与<70岁的6 7例(<70岁组)STE AMI患者进行比较。结果　与<70岁组患者比较,≥70岁组的STE AMI患者在进行了静脉溶栓治疗后行急诊冠状动脉造影显示:溶栓有效开通比例低,同时在心肌梗死急性期的死亡绝对数较大;但梗死相关动脉经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)成功比例两组无差异,同时,在≥70岁组,接受了静脉溶栓治疗后,再行PCI的严重出血并发症(包括颅内出血、消化道大出血等)并未见增加。结论　≥70岁组患者静脉溶栓有效开通比例较低,进行补救性PCI成功比例与<70岁组的STE AMI患者相同,在严密监测出、凝血参数情况下出现严重出血并发症低。     

急性下壁心肌梗死伴胸前导联ST段压低的意义

目的:探讨急性下壁心肌梗死(下壁AMI)时心电图胸前导联ST段压低的意义。方法:对61例下壁AMI患者(甲组37例,伴胸前导联ST段压低;乙组24例,不伴胸前导联ST段压低)的心电图及发病3个月内选择性冠状动脉造影结果对照分析。结果:①选择性冠状动脉造影显示冠状动脉病变(狭窄≥70%)支数在2组间的分布差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);②2组心功能表现差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:下壁AMI时心电图胸前导联ST段的压低与心功能不全有关,而与冠状动脉病变支数关系不大。     

急性心肌梗死溶栓治疗后ST段恢复时间对室壁运动及左室收缩功能的影响

目的观察急性心肌梗死(AMI)溶栓治疗后ST段恢复时间对预测室壁运动的临床意义。方法将心内科及急诊监护病房收治并接受静脉尿激酶溶栓治疗且符合梗死相关血管再通标准的120例AMI患者,根据溶栓后心电图的ST段达稳定下移50%的时间,分为30min内(n=34)、60min(n=49)、90min(n=37),分别测定3组的梗死血管室壁运动幅度及射血分数。结果抬高的ST段稳定下移50%所需要的时间不同,梗死相关室壁运动幅度存在差异(P<0.05),且随需要的时间延长,梗死相关室壁运动幅度及左室前壁收缩功能有下降趋势(P<0.05)。结论抬高的ST段恢复时间越短,梗死相关的室壁运动及左室前壁的收缩功能改善越明显。     

急性心肌梗死溶栓治疗后ST段改变对预后的评估

目的:探讨急性心肌梗死(AMI)溶栓后60、90和180 min心电图sT段下降50％对早期临床预后的价值。方法:将95例AMI患者在溶栓后60、90和180 min记录的心电图分为ST段下降≥50％组和ST段下降<50％组,比较不同时期两组间36 d的心脏性死亡率和功能。结果:在每个研究时间与溶栓前基础心电图的ST段抬高最大导联比较,ST段下降<50％组较ST段下降≥50％组,心脏性死亡率和射血分数降低差异有显著性意义(P<0.01),且这一关系随梗死部位不同有变化。下壁梗死只有60 min心电图可预测心脏性死亡(P<0.05)。前壁梗死只有溶栓后60和90 min心电图ST段下降<50％组较ST段下降≥50％组左心功能明显下降(P<0.05)。结论:用心电图监测AMI溶栓后ST段的变化,是一种预测早期临床预后和检出高危患者简便而可靠的方法。AMI溶栓后60 min心电图预测临床预后似乎比90和180 min心电图更好。     

平板运动试验对急性心肌梗死溶栓预后的判断

目的　探讨急性心肌梗死溶栓治疗的长期疗效。方法对 6 0例急性心肌梗死患者在发病后 3周行症状限制性平板运动试验 ,如 ST段在 J点后 80 m s呈水平或下斜型压低≥ 2 mm ,持续 3min以上被判为平板运动试验阳性 ,随访 3年。结果　溶栓组 (n=30 )与非溶栓组 (n=30 ) ST段压低≥ 2 m m阳性率分别为 7%、5 7% ,差异有非常显著意义 (P<0 .0 1) ,心脏事件的发生率分别为 0 .2 3%。结论　提示急性心肌梗死溶栓治疗疗效显著且预后良好。     

急性前壁心肌梗死下壁导联ST段变化与前降支形态和梗死部位的关系

目的探讨急性前壁心肌梗死时下壁导联ST段的变化与不同前降支形态和梗死部位关系。方法根据下壁导联心电图ST段改变情况,将67例首发急性前壁心肌梗死病例分为ST段压低组,ST段抬高组和ST段无变化组,与冠状动脉造影结果对照,分析各组心电图变化与前降支形态和梗死部位的关系。结果梗死相关部位在前降支近端者ST段压低组中占81.25%,ST段抬高组占20%,ST段无变化组占46.34%(P<0.01);LAD返折支配1/4以上下壁在ST段压低组中占6.25%,ST段抬高组占70%,ST段无变化组占29.27%(P<0.01)。结论急性前壁心肌梗死时下壁导联ST;段变化与前降支梗死部位和形态有关。下壁导联ST段压低提示前降支近端梗死,ST段抬高提示前降支远端梗死且存在前降支返折。     

Long-term value of exercise testing after acute myocardial infarction: influence of thrombolytic therapy

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term predictive value of exercise testing performed early after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients receiving thrombolytic therapy. DESIGN: Nonblinded prospective follow-up study. SETTING: Cardiac rehabilitation unit in a 900-bed university hospital. SUBJECTS: Four hundred forty-three patients allowed to perform exercise testing 3 weeks after AMI were followed for a median of 75 months; 183 received IV thrombolysis and 263 did not. RESULTS: Cardiac death hazard ratios were significantly increased in the presence of reduced physical working capacity on exertion, left ventricular dysfunction, and > or = 1-mm (but < 2-mm) ST-segment depression on exertion. In the group receiving thrombolytic therapy, no patient with > or = 2-mm ST-segment depression on exercise died; this group was characterized by a high rate of revascularization, whereas the group with > or = 1-mm but < 2-mm ST-segment depression was not. No parameter related to clinical or exercise testing predicted recurrent infarction in the group receiving thrombolytic therapy. Among patients not receiving thrombolysis, cardiac death was significantly related to > or = 2-mm ST-segment depression on exertion, to reduced physical working capacity, and to the lack of revascularization during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Exercise test-derived parameters have variable value in predicting long-term survival of patients performing exercise test after AMI depending on the following: (1) whether thrombolytic therapy was given or not; (2) the degree of ST-segment depression during exercise testing; and (3) the rate of revascularization.     

Heart failure during first inferior acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: Inferior acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) have better in-hospital prognosis than do anterior AMI. Authors of several studies reported that patients with inferior AMI complicated by atrioventricular block, concomitant precordial ST-segment depression and involvement of right ventricle have larger infarctions and a worse prognoses than do patients without these features. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the incidence, clinical course and in-hospital prognosis of patients with heart failure and first inferior AMI. METHODS: We analysed in 257 consecutive patients with first inferior AMI who had been admitted to the coronary care unit during January 1991 and March 1995. The clinical and electrocardiographic characteristics, as well as the morbidities and in-hospital mortalities, of groups of patients with and without heart failure during inferior AMI were compared. RESULTS: Symptoms and signs of heart failure were noted for 49 patients (19%). We found that patients who had suffered heart failure during inferior AMI were older (62.1 +/- 9.86 versus 58.78 +/- 10.58 years, P < 0.05) than those who had not suffered heart failure. There was no significant difference between patients' sex, history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking status, thrombolytic therapy, involvement of right ventricle and QRS score for these two groups. We found a greater prevalence of ST-segment depression (ST-segment depression > or = 1 mV in more than one precordial lead with maximal ST-segment depression in leads V4-V6) of V4-V6 precordial leads (57 versus 26%, P = 0.00002) and a lesser prevalence of no ST-segment depression (ST-segment depression < 0.1 mV in each precordial lead; 14 versus 38%, P = 0.001) among patients who had suffered heart failure. We found greater incidences of serious ventricular arrhythmias (53 versus 26, P = 0.0002) and ventricular tachycardiafibrillation (16 versus 7%, P = 0.03) among patients who had suffered heart failure than we did among those who had not. Third-degree atrioventricular block was more often found in patients who had suffered heart failure (23 versus 12%, P = 0.07) but this difference was not statistically significant. We found that the in-hospital mortality among patients who had suffered heart failure was much higher than that among those who had not (24.5 versus 3.8%, P = 0.000001). CONCLUSION: We found that heart failure occurs primarily in old patients, and in those with precordial ST-segment depression, especially in leads V4-V6. The patients who suffer heart failure have worse in-hospital prognosis due to serious ventricular arrhythmias and cardiogenic shock.     

Long-term clinical outcomes after rescue angioplasty are not different from those of successful thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction.

AIMS: The long-term value of rescue percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who received thrombolytic therapy but failed to achieve early recanalization of the artery is still debated. This study aimed to compare long-term outcomes after successful thrombolysis vs. systematic attempted rescue PTCA. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 362 consecutive patients with STEMI hospitalized within 6 h of symptom onset and treated with intravenous thrombolytic therapy were studied. Of these, 345 underwent coronary angiography within 90 min. Sixty per cent of patients achieved TIMI 3 flow and were treated medically; the in-hospital death rate in this group was 4%. Nine per cent of patients had TIMI 2 flow and 31% TIMI 0-1 flow. In this latter group, rescue PTCA was attempted in 85.8% with a hospital death rate of 5.5% (20% with failed vs. 4% with successful rescue PTCA, P=0.03). Eight year actuarial survival without recurrent myocardial infarction was no different in patients who had successful thrombolytic therapy and in patients with attempted rescue PTCA [78 and 95% CI (71-85) vs. 78 and 95% CI (68-87), respectively, hazard ratio: 0.93 (0.52-1.65), P=0.80]. Total mortality, cardiac mortality, and other composite endpoints also did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: Routine attempted rescue PTCA 90 min after thrombolytic therapy in patients with persistent occlusion of the infarct-related vessels achieves long-term clinical outcomes which do not differ from those obtained by successful thrombolysis.     

Sulfonylureas attenuate electrocardiographic ST-segment elevation during an acute myocardial infarction in diabetics

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether sulfonylureas attenuate ST-segment elevation in diabetics during acute myocardial infarction (AMI). BACKGROUND: Sulfonylureas block adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels found in the pancreas and heart. Animal studies have demonstrated that opening of these cardiac channels results in ST-segment elevation during AMI, and pretreatment with sulfonylureas blunts these ST-segment changes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of diabetic patients hospitalized with AMI over a four-year period in Framingham, Massachusetts. Electrocardiograms obtained on arrival were analyzed for standard ST-segment criteria for thrombolytic therapy (>1 mm in two or more contiguous leads). Results were compared between the study group (40 patients taking sulfonylureas) and control group (48 patients taking alternative hypoglycemic agent). RESULTS: Demographics were similar for both groups apart from a female preponderance in the study group. A significantly higher percentage of patients in the study group did not meet ST-segment criteria for thrombolytic therapy as compared with the control group (53% vs. 29%, p = 0.02). This difference was most prominent in patients with peak creatinine phosphokinase levels between 500 and 1,000 mg/dl (86% vs. 22%, p = 0.04). The magnitude of ST-segment elevation and the frequency of thrombolytic therapy were significantly lower in the sulfonylurea group than in the control group (1.1 +/- 1.0 mm vs. 2.1 +/- 2.7 mm, p = 0.02 and 20% vs. 40%, p = 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Sulfonylurea therapy appears to attenuate the magnitude of ST-segment elevation during an AMI, resulting in failure to meet criteria for thrombolytic therapy and as a consequence leading to inappropriate withholding therapy in this subset of diabetic patients.     

Efficacy of Rescue Thrombolysis in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: Preliminary Findings

Thrombolysis reduces mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who are hospitalized within 6 hours from the onset of symptoms. AMIs involving a small area of myocardium show a lower mortality in comparison with AMI involving a large area. The present study was aimed at evaluating the safety and efficacy of rescue thrombolysis in patients with large AMI who had failed thrombolysis.Ninety patients (69 males and 21 females), mean age 56.7 ± 9 years, hospitalized for suspected AMI within 4 hours from the onset of symptoms, suitable for thrombolysis (First episode), and showing pain and persistent ST segment elevation 120 minutes after starting thrombolysis, were randomized (double-blind) into two groups. Group A (45 patients: 10 Females and 35 males) received an additional thrombolytic treatment (rTPA 50 mg), 10 mg as bolus plus 40 mg in 60 minutes. Group B (45 patients: 11 Females and 34 males) received placebo. Positive noninvasive markers were defined as follows: (1) resolution of chest pain, (2) 50% reduction in ST segment elevation, (3) double marker of creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MB activity 2 hours after the start of thrombolysis, and (4) occurrence of reperfusion arrhythmias within the First 120 minutes of thrombolytic therapy. Blood pressure, heart rate, and ECG were continuously monitored. An echocardiogram was carried out at entry, and before discharge, to control ejection fraction and segmentary kinetics. Adverse events such as death, re-AMI, recurrent angina, incidence of major and minor bleeding, and emergency CABG/PTCA were checked.The groups were similar in terms of age, sex, diabetes, smoking habits, hypertension, and adjuvant therapy (beta-blockers). No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding the time elapsed from the onset of symptoms to thrombolysis and AMI localization.Thirty-five patients (77.7%) showed reperfusion (10–50 minutes) after commencement of additional rTPA. Of the patients receiving placebo, 12 (26.6%) showed reperfusion within 35–85 minutes. Group A showed an earlier and lower CK and CK-MB peak than the control group, (respectively p = 0.0001–0.009 and 0.002). Mortality (17.7%, 16 patients) was higher in group B than in the additional rTPA group, i.e. 28.8% (3 patients) in group A) versus 6.6% (13 patients) in Group B (p = 0.041). Seven patients from group A showed nonfatal re-AMI. Angina was observed in 18 patients (40%) from group A and 3 (6.6%) from group B, (p = 0.006). Ten of these patients underwent urgent PTCA (9 from group A and 1 from group B), and 3 from group A underwent urgent CABG. Minor bleeding was higher in group A than in group B (44.4% versus 15.5%, p = 0.047). Major bleeding was observed in group A (nonfatal stroke). At predischarge the echocardiogram ejection fraction was higher in group A than in group B (46 ± 8% versus 38 ± 7%, p = 0.0001).Our data suggest that an additional dose of thrombolytic drug in patients with unsuccessful thrombolysis is feasible and also that the bleeding increase is an acceptable risk in comparison with the advantages obtained in reducing AMI extension. Rescue thrombolysis can allow a gain in time to perform mechanical revascularization in patients admitted to hospital without an interventionist cardiology laboratory or in those who have to be referred to another hospital for urgent CABG.     

急性心肌梗塞溶栓失败患者行补救性经皮腔内冠状动脉成形术临床研究

为评价溶栓失败急性心肌梗塞（AMI）行补救性经皮腔内冠状动脉成形术（PTCA）的疗效及安全性，对35例AMI患者溶栓后90min行冠状动脉造影。根据梗塞相关动脉开通情况，16例成功者（甲组）中12例7～21d后行延迟PTCA治疗；19例失败者（乙组）中13例（乙1组）即刻行补救性PTCA，其余6例（乙2组）溶栓失败而未行PTCA者给一般药物治疗。结果表明，甲级中12例行延迟PTCA，成功11例（91．6％），正例于PTCA中出现冠状动脉急性闭塞并致小灶下壁心肌梗塞；乙1组13例行补救PTCA，全部成功（100％）。甲组住院期总心脏事件发生率（19％）与乙1组（23％）相似，且出院前心功能无显著差异。而乙2组6例中住院期死亡率（33％）及总心脏事件发生率（50％）增高。提示AMI溶栓失败患者补救PTCA成功率高、并发症少，能减少住院期心脏事件并促进左心室功能改善。     

Prognostic value of predischarge low-level exercise thallium testing after thrombolytic treatment of acute myocardial infarction

Low-level exercise thallium testing is useful in identifying the high-risk patient after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). To determine whether this use also applies to patients after thrombolytic treatment of AMI, 64 patients who underwent early thrombolytic therapy for AMI and 107 patients without acute intervention were evaluated. The ability of both the electrocardiogram and thallium tests to predict future events was compared in both groups. After a mean follow-up of 374 days, there were 25 and 32% of cardiac events in the 2 groups, respectively, with versus without acute intervention. These included death, another AMI, coronary artery bypass grafting or angioplasty with 75% of the events occurring in the 3 months after the first infarction. The only significant predictors of outcome were left ventricular cavity dilatation in the intervention group and ST-segment depression and increased lung uptake in the nonintervention group. The sensitivity of exercise thallium was 55% in the intervention group and 81% in the nonintervention group (p less than 0.05). Therefore, in patients having thrombolytic therapy for AMI, nearly half the events after discharge are not predicted by predischarge low-level exercise thallium testing. The relatively weak correlation of outcome with unmasking ischemia in the laboratory before discharge may be due to an unstable coronary lesion or rapid progression of disease after the test. Tests considered useful for prognostication after AMI may not necessarily have a similar value if there has been an acute intervention, such as thrombolytic therapy.     

Terminal QRS distortion on admission is better than ST-segment measurements in predicting final infarct size and assessing the Potential effect of thrombolytic therapy in anterior wall acute myocardial infarction.

We assessed predicting final infarct size (using predischarge Selvester score) by 3 electrocardiographic variables in 267 patients with first anterior wall acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing (n = 86) or not undergoing (n = 181) thrombolysis. Patients with previous AMI or inverted T waves in leads with ST elevation were excluded. The sum (sigma) of ST elevation, the number of leads with ST elevation, and the initial electrocardiographic pattern were determined on the admission electrocardiogram (absence (QRS-) or presence (QRS+) of distortion of the terminal portion of the QRS in > or =2 leads (J point > or =0.5 of the R-wave amplitude in leads I, aVL, V4 to V6, or presence of ST elevation without S waves in leads V1 to V3). There was no association between sigmaST elevation and final infarct size in patients who did or did not receive thrombolytic therapy. Analysis of covariance showed that the number of leads with ST elevation (F = 19.6), thrombolysis (F = 25.2), and QRS+ initial pattern (F = 19.5) were all associated with final infarct size (p <0.0001 for all). Among patients who did not receive thrombolytic therapy, the average Selvester score was 19.7+/-9.9 for the QRS- patients and 26.1+/-10.4 for the QRS+ patients (p = 0.02). Among patients who received thrombolytic therapy, the average Selvester score was 11.7+/-9.8 for the QRS- patients and 24.2+/-10.1 for the QRS+ patients (p <0.0001). Thrombolysis reduced final Selvester score only in the QRS- group (p <0.00001), but not in the QRS+ group (p = 0.45). It is concluded that (1) final Selvester score in anterior wall AMI can be predicted by the number of leads with ST elevation, the initial electrocardiographic pattern, and thrombolysis, and (2) thrombolysis reduces final Selvester score only in patients with QRS- pattern.     

Value of the initial electrocardiogram in patients with inferior-wall acute myocardial infarction for prediction of multivessel coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with inferior-wall acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who have ST-segment depression in the left precordial leads (LSTD+) on the initial electrocardiogram were reported to have more diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD) than had those without this finding (LSTD-). This suggests that LSTD+ patients may need extensive revascularization interventions more often than do LSTD- patients. However, this has not yet been confirmed. OBJECTIVE: To compare the coronary angiographic findings and treatment strategies for patients with inferior-wall AMI according to the LSTD pattern. METHODS: The clinical outcomes and the angiographic findings for 238 consecutive patients aged < or = 75 years who had been admitted to our hospital between 1 February 1995 and 1 February 1997 with inferior-wall AMI were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the pattern of precordial ST-segment depression: LSTD+, ST-segment depression in leads V4-V6; and LSTD-, absence of this finding. All patients were treated according to current practice guidelines including with thrombolysis and revascularization interventions. RESULTS: The final study population included 217 patients; 83 were LSTD+ and 134 were LSTD-. All underwent coronary angiography within 30 days of the infarction. Compared with LSTD- patients, LSTD+ patients tended to be older (mean age 62.7 +/- 11.7 versus 58.3 +/- 9.6 years, P = 0.004), and had higher incidences of hypertension (39.8 versus 24.6%, P = 0.019) previous myocardial infarction (45.8 versus 20.1%, P = 0.0001) and congestive heart failure (21.7 versus 3.7%, P = 0.00008). Three-vessel CAD was much more common, and single-vessel CAD much less common, in the LSTD+ than in LSTD- group (62.7 versus 13.4% and 8.4 versus 50.7%, P < 0.00001 for both). Coronary-artery-bypass surgery and multivessel percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) were used in treating 65.1% of the LSTD+ versus only 6.0% of the LSTD- patients (P < 0.00001), whereas single-vessel PCI was used in treating 71.6% of the LSTD- patients versus only 24.1% of the LSTD+ patients (P < 0.00001). Thus, the LSTD- pattern predicted single-vessel disease and single-vessel PCI only, whereas the LSTD+ pattern was predictive of multivessel CAD and of use of coronary-artery-bypass surgery or multivessel PCI (predictive values of 94.0 and 65.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with inferior-wall AMI, left precordial ST-segment depression predicts a very high prevalence of multivessel CAD and use of extensive revascularization interventions. The absence of this finding predicts nondiffuse CAD and lack of a need for extensive revascularization.     

Angiographic and clinical significance of 'transient' ST-segment depression in the lateral chest leads in anterior wall acute myocardial infarction

This study aimed to clarify the significance of ST-segment depression in the lateral chest leads in anterior wall acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with ST-segment elevation. A total of 196 patients with their first anterior wall AMI (< or =6h) were divided into 2 groups according to the presence (group A, n=39) or absence (group B, n=157) of ST-segment depression > or =0.1 mV in V5 and/or V6 on the admission electrocardiogram. Patients with electrocardiographic confounding factors were excluded. No patients had persistent ST-segment depression in the lateral chest leads. Emergency coronary angiography revealed that group A had higher incidences of occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) proximal to its first septal branch (77% vs 51%, p<0.01) and good collateral circulation than group B (46% vs 25%, p<0.05). Peak creatine kinase levels were significantly lower in group A than in group B (2060+/-1099 vs 2873+/-2077 IU/L, p<0.01). Left ventricular ejection fraction in the chronic phase was significantly greater in group A than in group B. Regional wall motion in the infarct region in the chronic phase was better in group A than in group B. These results indicate that patients with 'transient' ST-segment depression in the lateral chest leads in anterior wall AMI had a relatively smaller infarct size, despite their higher incidence of occlusion of the LAD proximal to its first septal branch, because of their higher incidence of good collateral circulation.