The diagnostic value of R-wave amplitude changes during exercise testing.
Exercise ECG, coronary arteriography and left ventriculography were performed in 200 patients with suspected or confirmed coronary artery disease (CAD). The authors compared the diagnostic value of R wave amplitude changes and ST segment depressions in V5. Evaluation of the results showed a near uniform sensitivity of the two methods. R wave amplitude changes in V5 did not correlate with the presence and degree of CAD nor with the number of affected coronary arteries. In contrast to the absence of a definite correlation with topical left ventricular dysfunction there was a correlation with the ejection fraction. The study showed that in some instances R wave amplitude changes may complement the evaluation of exercise testing based on ST segment depressions. Yet, R wave amplitude changes alone during exercise testing lack a sufficient predictive accuracy for being adopted as a routine criterion of coronary insufficiency.
D000328:Adult; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013318:Stroke Volume