The signal-averaged electrocardiogram and ventricular arrhythmias after thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction.
The prevalence of an abnormal signal-averaged electrocardiogram (ECG) and ventricular arrhythmias on 24 h ambulatory electrocardiography was evaluated in 118 patients 13 +/- 2 days after acute myocardial infarction. Group 1 (46 patients) underwent intravenous thrombolysis within 6 h of the onset of symptoms, whereas Group 2 (72 patients) did not. An abnormal signal-averaged ECG was seen in 15% of patients in Group 1 and 21% of those in Group 2 (difference not significant). The number of ventricular premature complexes/h was lower in Group 1 than in Group 2: 2.58 +/- 1.63 versus 7.91 +/- 10.75 (p less than 0.01). However, complex arrhythmias (greater than or equal to 10 ventricular premature complexes/h or ventricular tachycardia) were equally common in Groups 1 and 2 (20% versus 22%, respectively). Their prevalence was similar in patients with or without an abnormal signal-averaged ECG (29% versus 18%, respectively, in Group 1 and 27% versus 21%, respectively, in Group 2). Comparison between patients with (n = 26) or without (n = 20) angiographic patency of the infarct-related coronary artery after thrombolysis showed no significant difference in the prevalence of an abnormal signal-averaged ECG (8% versus 25%, respectively) and complex ventricular arrhythmias (19% versus 20%, respectively). These data suggest that thrombolysis does not affect the prevalence of complex ventricular arrhythmias and an abnormal signal-averaged ECG or their relation after acute myocardial infarction.
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Cardiology Division, San Camillo Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Risa
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Zanchi
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000187:drug effects
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents