title: Effect of coronary ischemia on QT dispersion.
abstract: Over the last 5 to 8 years, numerous clinical studies have been conducted evaluating the effects of coronary ischemia on disparity of ventricular repolarization (VR) as assessed by determination of QT dispersion from the surface electrocardiogram. From findings in patients with acute myocardial infarction, stable coronary disease, and vasospastic angina there is convincing evidence that acute coronary ischemia augments inhomogeneity in VR. In some studies, this was associated with the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias. In general, therefore, these clinical observations confirm previous experimental work. One should keep in mind, however, various problems inherent to the current technology used to determine QT dispersion from the surface electrocardiogram. Whereas some of these technological limitations can be overcome in carefully designed and conducted clinical studies, these methodological shortcomings have so far precluded the routine use of QT dispersion in taking care of patients with acute coronary syndromes. It remains to be seen whether further refinements in technology will enable clinicians to incorporate assessment of disparity of VR in daily practice in an attempt to further improve care of patients with acute coronary syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, J. W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hohnloser
mesh_terms: D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D003329:Coronary Vasospasm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology