Case studies: Significance of episodic painless ST segment elevation at rest in ischemic heart disease

The occurrence of episodic painless ST segment elevation at rest was documented by continuous electrocardiographic monitoring in four patients with ischemic heart disease who did not conform to the classic description of Prinzmetal's variant angina. The degree of ST segment elevation in the absence of pain was generally similar to that seen with painful episodes. Clincopathological correlation was available in three of these patients: two were found to have severe coronary artery disease and one had a 70% obstructive lesion in the right coronary artery only. Three patients subsequently developed a myocardial infarction. Our observations suggest that transient painless ST segment elevation at rest is a serious finding reflecting severe ischemia and more likely to be "preinfarctional" than "variant" angina. Long term monitoring is useful in detecting silent severe ischemia that may sometimes occur with potentially lethal arrhythmias as demonstrated in one case.