Multipolar maps in patients with postinfarction heart failure

The aim of this study was to assess the changes in body surface maps in patients with postinfarction heart failure (PIHF).

Body surface mapping was performed in 22 patients with PIHF and 20 age-matched healthy controls, using a 64-electrode vest. A card index was made for every patient and person of the control group, containing isopotential and isointegral maps. The number and absolute value of maxima and minima were assessed for every map.

Only bipolar maps were recorded in the healthy control group, and multipolar maps were found in 55% of the patients with PIHF. All patients with multipolar isointegral QRST maps had also multipolar isopotential ST maps (J + 110 milliseconds); 67%, multipolar isopotential QRS peak maps; 33%, multipolar isointegral Q40 maps; 17%, multipolar isointegral QRS maps; 67%, multipolar isointegral STT maps; and 50%, multipolar isointegral ST maps. Significant differences were noticed in maxima and minima in patients with PIHF compared with healthy controls and in patients with multipolar isointegral maps (QRST and Q40) compared with those with bipolar maps. Multiple regression analysis revealed that multipolar QRST maps were significantly associated (P < .001) with maxima and minima of the isointegral maps. Isointegral multipolar QRST maps were significantly associated (P < .001) with multipolar isopotential ST maps, multipolar isointegral QRS maps, multipolar isointegral STT maps, and multipolar isointegral ST maps.

Postinfarction heart failure increases the prevalence of multipolar maps and significantly changes maxima and minima. Multipolar QRST isointegral maps are significantly associated with maxima and minima of the QRS, ST, STT, and QRST maps and with other types of multipolar maps: isointegral QRS, STT, ST and isopotential ST (J + 110 milliseconds), and QRS peak maps.