The value of magnetocardiography in the course of coronary intervention.
BACKGROUND
The noninvasive detection of restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains a clinical challenge. Previous studies have shown that magnetocardiograms reveal obvious changes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and normal electrocardiogram (ECG) at rest.


OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of magnetocardiography (MCG) for the detection of electrophysiological changes in the course of successful PCI.


METHODS
Twelve-lead ECG and unshielded four-channel MCG (SQUID AG, Essen, Germany) were registered at nine prethoracic sites in 50 patients with CAD (62 +/- 10 years; EF = 76 +/- 11%; registration: before, 24 hours, and 1 month (n = 25) after PCI) and 57 normals (51 +/- 9 years). Current density vector (CDV) maps were reconstructed within the ST-T interval and classified from category 0 (normal) to category 4 (grossly abnormal). In both groups and at all registration times, the percentage of each category of maps was calculated and compared.


RESULTS
Most CDV maps of normals were classified as category 0, 1, or 2 compared to CAD patients before PCI with most maps of category 3 and 4 (P < 0.0005). Twenty-four hours after PCI, more maps were classified as category 2 (P < 0.05) and less as category 4 (P < 0.005). One month after PCI the MCG results further improved: more maps were classified as category 1 (P < 0.05) and 2 (P < 0.005) and less maps as category 4 (P < 0.0001). The ECG remained unchanged in the course of PCI.


CONCLUSIONS
Unshielded four-channel MCG reveals obvious changes in the course of successful PCI on the basis of CDV map reconstruction during repolarization. The method seems to be suitable for the follow-up of patients after PCI.
Hailer
Birgit
B
Department of Medicine, Philippusstift, Essen, Germany. b.hailer@philippusstift.de
Van Leeuwen
Peter
P
Chaikovsky
Illja
I
Auth-Eisernitz
Sabine
S
Schäfer
Harald
H
Grönemeyer
Dietrich
D
D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000628:therapy*; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000628:therapy; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged