[Early diagnosis of left-ventricular hypertrophy using precordial electrocardiographic mapping of the heart]

Quantitative indices of instantaneous maps of the distribution of electric potential on the chest surface were compared to a left ventricular myocardial mass value, calculated on the basis of echocardiographic results and echocardiographic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy, in 77 patients with essential hypertension or neurocirculatory dystonia of hypertensive type and in 25 healthy controls. Four quantitative cartographic indices were shown to be very important for diagnosis: 1) tMaxk; 2) tapic; 3) + sigma QRS; 4) NQ15. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy was over 80%. Cartographic quantitative indices were shown to correlate with a high degree of significance (p less than 0.01) (r much greater than 0.75) with a left ventricular myocardial mass value calculated on the basis of echocardiography results.