The clinical implications of electrocardiographic changes in first acute myocardial infarction

To assess the prognostic significance and the clinical implications of the electrocardiographic findings of the first acute myocardial infarction, the in-hospital mortality and complications and three-year follow-up of 180 patients were analyzed. The patients were divided according to the infarction type (transmural, non-transmural), the site, (anterior, inferior including posterior) and the absence or presence of ST depression in leads facing the site of infarction. The peak enzyme concentrations were significantly higher in those with transmural infarcts than in those with non-transmural infarcts, in anterior infarcts compared to inferior infarcts, and in those sites with ST depression than those without. The early complications of cardiogenic shock, congestive cardiac failure, and complete heart block were significantly higher in transmural infarcts compared to non-transmural, while late complications and mortality were the same in all groups and subgroups. This study demonstrated that ECG changes in the first acute myocardial infarction are of prognostic significance for the early clinical course, but cannot predict the late course or subsequent coronary events.