Effects of thrombolysis on the 12-lead signal-averaged ECG in the early postinfarction period

Jonathan Leor, Hanoch Hod, Zeev Rotstein, Smadar Truman, Stuart Gansky, Uri Goldbourt, Shimon Abboud, Elieser Kaplinsky, Michael Eldar*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Signal-averaged ECG has been used to identify patients at risk for ventricular tachycardia and sudden death after myocardial infarction. The goals of this prospective study were to examine the effects of reperfusion achieved with thrombolytic therapy on the 12-lead signal-averaged ECG and on ventricular arrhythmias in the early period after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A total of 190 consecutive patients with AMI who fulfilled the inclusion critera were enrolled. Thrombolysis was attempted in 80 patients and was considered successful in 57 (group I) and unsuccessful in 23 (group II); 110 patients were not treated with thrombolytic agents (group III). Signal averaging of 12 ECG leads was performed within 2 days in all patients and between 7 and 10 days after admission in 163 patients. The filtered QRS complex duration (QRSD) was significantly shorter in group I compared to group III in 7 of 12 ECG leads at 2 days and in 10 of 12 leads at 7 to 10 days. The root mean square voltage of the terminal 40 msec of the QRS complex (RMS40) did not change between the two signal-avaraged ECG recordings in group I, whereas it became lower in three ECG leads in group II and in seven ECG leads in group III. There was no correlation between infarct site and significant changes in infarct-related signal-averaged ECG leads. The occurrence of complex ventricular arrhythmias was not significantly different among the three groups. We conclude that successful reperfusion, compared with falled and nonattempted reperfusion, is associated with fewer abnormalities in the 12-lead signal-averaged ECG in the early period after AMI. These findings may be related to reduced early and late mortality in patients undergoing successful reperfusion.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)495-502
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Heart Journal
Volume120
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1990

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effects of thrombolysis on the 12-lead signal-averaged ECG in the early postinfarction period'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this