Electrocardiographic markers predict left ventricular wall motion improvement in patients with acute myocardial
Leonid Berstein1, Alexander Vishnevsky, Vladimir Novikov
1Department of Cardiology, Medical Academy of Postgraduate Studies, Saint-Petersburg, Russia. l_berstein@yahoo.com
Insights
Early prediction of left ventricular wall motion changes in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is crucial. Total ST-segment resolution and T-wave changes after thrombolysis reliably predict improvement in STEMI patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
- Electrocardiography
Background:
- Prognosis in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) depends on early left ventricular wall motion assessment.
- Fibrinolysis is a key treatment for STEMI, necessitating predictive markers for patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify reliable predictors of left ventricular wall motion score index (WMSI) improvement in STEMI patients treated with thrombolysis.
- To evaluate the utility of ST-segment resolution and T-wave amplitude changes as early prognostic indicators.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 106 STEMI patients undergoing thrombolysis.
- Assessment of total and maximal ST-segment resolution at 3 hours post-thrombolysis.
- Measurement of T-wave amplitude changes at 48 hours and baseline.
Main Results:
- Total ST-segment resolution >44% (anterior) and >59% (nonanterior) predicted WMSI improvement.
- T-wave amplitude difference < -28 mm at 48 hours also predicted WMSI improvement.
- Specific sensitivities and specificities were reported for these predictive markers.
Conclusions:
- Total ST-segment resolution at 3 hours is a reliable predictor of WMSI improvement in STEMI.
- T-wave changes at 48 hours post-thrombolysis also reliably predict left ventricular recovery in STEMI patients.
Background:
In patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with fibrinolysis, prediction of early left ventricular wall motion changes is important for prognosis.
Materials And Methods:
In 106 patients with STEMI treated with thrombolysis, we analyzed the degrees of total and maximal ST-segment resolution at 3 hours and changes in sums of T-wave amplitudes in leads with ST elevation 3 and 48 hours after thrombolysis as the predictors of the echocardiographic left ventricular wall motion score index (WMSI) improvement.
Results:
Wall motion score index improvement was best predicted by total ST-segment resolution of more than 44% in anterior infarctions (sensitivity, 81%; specificity, 62%) and more than 59% in nonanterior infarctions (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 42%) and by difference in sums of T-wave amplitudes between electrocardiograms at 48 hours and baseline less than -28 mm (sensitivity, 68%; specificity, 76%).
Conclusion:
In STEMI, the total ST-segment resolution 3 hours and T-wave changes at 48 hours after thrombolysis are the reliable predictors of the left ventricular WMSI improvement.
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