Not Every ST-Segment Elevation Is a STEMI

Andrea C Merlo1, Fabio Pescetelli1, Pietro Ameri1,2

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.

JACC. Case Reports
|July 28, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Electrocardiograms are vital for diagnosing ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. However, severe dysionia can mimic these ECG findings, highlighting the need for careful differential diagnosis in chest pain patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Medical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Electrocardiograms (ECG) are essential for diagnosing ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
  • Chest pain, specific symptoms, and echocardiographic findings often accompany STEMI.
  • Differential diagnosis is crucial as other conditions can present with STEMI-like ECG changes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight that conditions other than STEMI can mimic ECG findings.
  • To present a case study of severe dysionia causing STEMI-like ECG changes.

Main Methods:

  • Case report presentation.
  • Review of electrocardiogram findings in a patient with severe dysionia.

Main Results:

  • The case demonstrated an electrocardiogram pattern mimicking STEMI.
  • Severe dysionia was identified as the cause of the electrocardiogram abnormality.

Conclusions:

  • Physicians must consider non-STEMI causes for ST-segment elevation on ECG.
  • Severe dysionia is a potential mimic of STEMI that requires clinical awareness.

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