Observations of the relationship between left ventricular aneurysm and ST segment elevation in patients with a first acute anterior Q wave myocardial infarction

Seventy-eight consecutive survivors of a first acute anteriorQ wave myocardial infarction (AMI) underwent two-dimensionalechocardiography (2D echo), colour Doppler echo and radionuclideangiography (RNA) for the diagnosis of left ventricular (LV)anteroapical aneurysm, in order to study the relationship ofthis complication to precordial ST segment elevation in thesepatients. The ST elevation (mm) in lead V₂, the maximum ST elevationin V₁-V₆ and the sum of ST elevation in V₁ to V₆ were calculated.LV aneurysm was present in 19 patients by 2D echo, of whom 12had a paradoxical systolic flow pattern (red and outward towardsthe transducer) at the apex. There was no difference between the mean ST elevation in V₂or the maximum ST elevation in V₁-V₆ in patients with and withoutan aneurysm, although the sum of ST elevations in V₁ to V₆ washigher in the former group (P<0.01). ST elevation of patientswith and without paradoxical systolic flow also did not differsignificantly. Wall motion abnormality (akinesis and dyskinesis)by 2D echo in the anterior wall was seen in 74% of patientswith and 36% of patients without an aneurysm (P<0.005), andin the septal region in 63% and 47% of respective patients (P-NS).There was no difference between the magnitude of ST elevationin subgroups of patients with ejection fraction (EF) 30% to40%, but the mean EF of patients with (23 ± 2.1%) andwithout a LV aneurysm (34 ± 1.3%) differed (P<0.001). It is concluded that precordial ST segment elevation does notclearly and in the diagnosis of an anteroapical LV aneurysm.It is related to akinesis and dyskinesis in anterior and septalregions inherent in patients with AMI and does not indicateimpaired LV function.