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A Research Method For Detecting Transient Myocardial Ischemia In Patients With Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome Using Continuous ST-segment Analysis
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Usefulness of magnetocardiogram to detect unstable angina pectoris and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction

Hyun Kyoon Lim1, Hyukchan Kwon, Namsik Chung

  • 1Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Daejeon, Korea. hlim@kriss.re.kr

The American Journal of Cardiology
|February 7, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Magnetocardiography (MCG) effectively detects coronary artery disease. Specific MCG parameters and magnetic field maps show high sensitivity and specificity for identifying unstable angina pectoris (UAP) and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Biophysics
  • Medical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Accurate diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) requires both electrophysiologic and anatomic information.
  • A noninvasive tool to detect severe stenosis in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is needed.
  • Magnetocardiography (MCG) offers noncontact, noninvasive, and rapid detection of ischemic CAD, providing direct electrophysiologic data.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze 10 magnetocardiographic (MCG) parameters in controls and patients with UAP and NSTEMI.
  • To evaluate the diagnostic utility of MCG parameters and magnetic field maps for detecting severe coronary artery disease.
  • To assess the sensitivity and specificity of MCG in identifying UAP and NSTEMI.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 10 MCG parameters using a 64-channel MCG system in a magnetically shielded room.
  • Comparison of MCG data from 185 young controls, 19 age-matched controls (AMCs), 110 UAP patients, and 83 NSTEMI patients.
  • Evaluation of magnetic field maps for detecting coronary artery disease severity.

Main Results:

  • All 10 MCG parameters showed significant differences between controls and NSTEMI patients (p <0.001).
  • Six parameters differed significantly between AMCs and UAP patients (p <0.01), with values increasing as ischemic conditions worsened.
  • Abnormal magnetic field maps were prevalent in UAP (70%) and NSTEMI (92.5%) patients.
  • The combination of 10 MCG parameters achieved 96.4% sensitivity and 85% specificity for NSTEMI detection.

Conclusions:

  • MCG parameters and magnetic field maps can effectively detect unstable angina pectoris (UAP) and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).
  • The magnetic field map is a simple method for assessing coronary artery disease severity.
  • Combined analysis of MCG parameters offers a sensitive and specific diagnostic approach for UAP and NSTEMI.

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