[Correlation between the persistence of ST elevation and left ventricular aneurysm in the post-infarction period]

The objective of this study was to verify whether the persistence of ST elevation on ECG after myocardial infarction was well correlated with the presence of left ventricular aneurysm. This study concerns 30 male patients with a mean age of 46 +/- 7.6 years, with ST elevation of more than 1 mm on ECG, at least 15 days after the presumed onset of myocardial infarction. All patients were investigated by echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. ST elevation was recorded in the ECG leads corresponding to the site of necrosis. 2D echocardiography identified 21 cases (70%) of left ventricular aneurysm and cardiac catheterization revealed 26 cases (86%). The electrical site of ST elevation was correlated with the site of the aneurysm. In conclusion, the persistence of ST elevation on the ECG more than 15 days after the onset of myocardial infarction has a good predictive value for the presence of left ventricular aneurysm, which can only be confirmed by cardiac catheterization.