[Exercise ECG and localization of coronary artery stenoses].
BACKGROUND
ST segment depressions in exercise ECG are nearly always seen in the precordial leads V4-6. We wanted to investigate if other localizations of ST depressions give further informations.


METHODS
The material originates from the CART study in which 365 patients had an exercise ECG performed shortly before coronary angiography. All patients included had at least one stenosis with more than 60% diameter reduction.


RESULTS
175 patients (48%) got ST depressions, of whom 162 (92%) got these changes in the precordial leads V4-6. 52 patients (30%) also got ST depressions in the inferior leads II/aVF; 12 (8%) only in these leads. The distribution of coronary artery stenoses and the frequency of earlier Q-wave infarctions were the same, independent of where the ST depressions were localized.


CONCLUSIONS
ST segment depressions seen during exercise ECG do not give information on the localization or extent of coronary artery stenoses.
Skjaeggestad
Øyvind
Ø
Hjertemedisinsk avdeling, Ullevål universitetssykehus, 0407 Oslo.
Johansen
Odd
O
Arnesen
Harald
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged