Non-invasive diagnosis of coronary artery disease using cardiogoniometry performed at rest.
BACKGROUND
Cardiogoniometry is a non-invasive technique for quantitative three-dimensional vectorial analysis of myocardial depolarization and repolarization. We describe a method of surface electrophysiological cardiac assessment using cardiogoniometry performed at rest to detect variables helpful in identifying coronary artery disease.


METHODS
Cardiogoniometry was performed in 793 patients prior to diagnostic coronary angiography. Using 13 variables in men and 10 in women, values from 461 patients were retrospectively analyzed to obtain a diagnostic score that would identify patients having coronary artery disease. This score was then prospectively validated on 332 patients.


RESULTS
Cardiogoniometry showed a prospective diagnostic sensitivity of 64%, and a specificity of 82%. ECG diagnostic sensitivity was significantly lower, with 53% and a similar specificity of 75%.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiogoniometry is a new, noninvasive, quantitative electrodiagnostic technique which is helpful in identifying patients with coronary artery disease. It can easily be performed at rest and delivers an accurate, automated diagnostic score.
Schüpbach
W M Michael
WM
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland. michael.schupbach@wanadoo.fr
Emese
Bernhard
B
Loretan
Patrick
P
Mallet
Alain
A
Duru
Firat
F
Sanz
Ernst
E
Meier
Bernhard
B
D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014672:Vectorcardiography / Q000379:methods*