Does recovery-limited ST segment depression during exercise ECG stress testing confer the same prognosis as that occurring during exercise? A case and a review of the literature
Adam V Weizman1, Chi-Ming Chow
1Dept. of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
Abstract:
The case of a 44-year-old male with no cardiac risk factor who complained of typical angina is presented. The patient underwent an exercise electrocardiogram (ECG) stress test that showed ST segment depression limited to the recovery period of testing. He subsequently underwent coronary angiogram and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of his right coronary artery. The literature on recovery-limited ST segment depression during exercise ECG stress testing was reviewed. The diagnostic and prognostic value of recovery-limited ST depression was similar to ST segment depression during the active phase of exercise ECG stress testing and should, therefore, be interpreted as a positive test. Moreover, the prevalence of ST segment depression limited to the recovery period is higher than earlier studies had suggested, emphasizing the importance of monitoring patients during the recovery period following the cessation of exercise.
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