title: [Fused TU complexes as a new electrocardiographic marker of poor prognosis after myocardial infraction].
abstract: To date, the clinical significance of fused T and U waves, termed as TU complexes, has not been evaluated. The aim of the study was to present the clinical characteristics of the patients with TU complexes and to assess the value of this ECG abnormality in risk stratification after myocardial infarction. In the group of 330 postinfarction patients (mean age 61 +/- 10 years, 279 men and 51 women), 50 (15%) had TU complexes in one or more leads of a standard ECG. In patients with TU complexes, the decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, frequent (> or = 10/hour) ventricular premature beats and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia detected on 24-hours ECG monitoring, increased QT dispersion, ST-segment depression and ST-segment elevation on a routine ECG were more common than in patients without TU complexes. During a follow-up period of 43 +/- 17 months, 88 patients died from all causes. At univariate Cox analysis the presence of TU complexes (hazard ratio 3.30; 95% confidence interval 2.09-5.21) and left ventricular ejection fraction < 40% (hazard ratio 3.82; 95% confidence interval 2.51-5.82) were the best predictors of mortality among the 9 evaluated clinical and electrocardiographic variables. The multivariate, stepwise Cox analysis selected ejection fraction < 40% (hazard ratio 3.09; 95% confidence interval 2.00-4.80), TU complexes (hazard ratio 2.28; 95% confidence interval 1.42-3.69), RR interval < 800 ms (hazard ratio 1.62; 95% confidence interval 1.06-2.47), and age of patients > 65 years (hazard ratio 1.58; 95% confidence interval 1.03-2.42) as an independent predictors of all cause mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of TU complexes on a routine ECG is associated with impaired left ventricular function, increased predisposition to ventricular arrhythmias and higher risk of mortality. TU complexes may be considered as a new electrocardiographic marker of poor prognosis in patients after myocardial infarction.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Kardiometrii Instytutu Medycyny Wewnetrznej Centralnego Szpitala Klinicznego Wojskowej AM w Warszawie.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dabrowski
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kramarz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology