Reliability of the exercise-induced ST-segment changes to detect restenosis three months after coronary angioplasty: significance of the appearance in other leads.
BACKGROUND
Exercise-induced ST-segment changes 3 months after angioplasty may sometimes show a false-positive result.


METHODS
We therefore analyzed the ST changes observed during the exercise tests performed before and 3 months after angioplasty in 118 patients with single-vessel coronary artery disease.


RESULTS
Ninety-two (78%) of the 118 patients had ST changes in the same lead before and after angioplasty, whereas the remaining 26 (22%) patients had ST changes in other leads in the postangioplasty test when compared with the preangioplasty exercise test. Restenosis was found in 44 (48%) of the 92 patients with ST changes in the some lead but in only four (15%) of the 26 patients with ST changes in other leads.


CONCLUSIONS
Exercise-induced ST-segment changes are not reliable markers of restenosis 3 months after angioplasty. ST-segment changes observed in other leads after angioplasty compared with the preangioplasty exercise test may show a false-positive result.
Michaelides
A P
AP
Department of Cardiology, University of Athens Medical School, Hippokration Hospital, Greece.
Dilaveris
P E
PE
Psomadaki
Z D
ZD
Aggelakas
S
S
Stefanadis
C
C
Cokkinos
D
D
Gialafos
J
J
Toutouzas
P K
PK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results