The effect of use contrast medium on frontal plane QRS-T angle in patients who had elective coronary angiography

Contrast medium used in coronary angiography may cause changes in the electrophysiological properties of the myocardium, which may lead to some changes in the electrocardiography (ECG). Frontal plane QRS-T (fQRS-T) angle, which can be easily calculated from surface ECG, is an indicator of ventricular repolarization heterogeneity and predictive of arrhythmia.

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of contrast medium use on the fQRS-T angle in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography with the diagnosis of stable angina pectoris.

Our study included 343 patients diagnosed with stable angina pectoris who underwent elective coronary angiography. Demographic data and risk factors of all patients were recorded at admission. The frontal plane QRS-T angle was calculated from routine ECG recordings of patients included in the study before and after coronary angiography and the change was recorded. The amount of contrast agent used was also noted for each patient.

The mean age of the patients included in the study was 57.03 ± 9.10, and 185 (53.9 %) were male. The change in fQRS-T angle was statistically significant after the use of contrast media (30.04 ± 30.76 vs 33.87 ± 32.6, p value <0.001).

In our study, although there was a statistically significant increase in the fQRS-T angle of the patients after contrast material, it did not exceed the pathological limit and no life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia was observed.