ST-segment deviation pattern of takotsubo cardiomyopathy similar to acute pericarditis: diffuse ST-segment elevation
Zhan Zhong-qun1, Wang Chong-quan, Samuel Sclarovsky
1Department of Cardiology, Shiyan Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan City, Hubei Province, China. zzqun21@yahoo.com.cn
Background:
Possible similarities or differences in the ST- and PR-segment deviations in the electrocardiogram of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) and acute pericarditis (AP) are not well defined.
Methods:
We compared different parameters of the admission electrocardiogram in eight patients with TTC and eight patients with AP with ST-segment elevation in the acute phase.
Results:
We found significant differences in the maximal magnitude of the T wave in the precordial leads, but not in the ST- and PR-segment deviation patterns between the two patient groups. All the patients in the two groups showed consistent ST-segment depression in lead aVR and absence of ST-segment elevation in lead V1.
Conclusions:
The ST- and PR-segment deviation patterns in TTC are similar to that of AP, namely diffuse ST-segment elevations with reciprocal changes in aVR and V1 and PR-segment elevation in aVR accompanied by PR-segment depression in the inferior leads, possibly indicating that TTC has ECG characteristics of circumferential subepicardial ischemia in the acute phase.
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