The predictive value of the electrocardiographic pattern of acute q-wave myocardial infarction for recurrent ischemia

Atotal of 140 consecutive patients with acute Q-wave myocardial infarction was evaluated to assess the relationship between different electrocardiographic patterns of evolution and the incidence of recurrent ischemia within 10 days of infarction. Patients were allocated to three groups according to the electrocardiogram at 12 h after admission: Group A: ST elevation of < 2 mm and negative T waves (75 patients); Group B: ST elevation of > 2 mm and negative T waves (35 patients); Group C: ST elevation of > 2 mm and positive T waves (30 patients). Patients in Group C had more anterior wall infarctions (82%) than Group A (40%) or Group B (58%) (p = 0.0001). Peak creatine kinase levels were lower in Group A (782 ± 115 IU) than in Groups B (1415 ± 257 IU) and C (1501 ± 287 IU) (p<0.0001). The occurrence of post-infarction recurrent ischemia was more frequent in Group A (79.2%) than in Groups B (33.3%) and C (14.8%) (p<0.0001). Patients in Group A had relatively smaller infarctions and a higher incidence of recurrent ischemia, whereas patients in Group C had larger infarctions and a lower incidence of recurrent ischemia. The electrocardiographic pattern 12 h after admission for acute myocardial infarction is helpful in identifying a subgroup at high risk of recurrent ischemia.