Predictive value of Q waves on the 12-lead electrocardiogram after reperfusion therapy for ST elevation myocardial infarction.
METHODS
The data used for the present study were obtained as part of a clinical trial evaluating the effect of thrombus aspiration after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).


METHODS
The study was conducted at a tertiary referral facility for primary PCI at a University Medical Center Groningen in The Netherlands.


BACKGROUND
Prognosis after ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is strongly related to infarct size.


METHODS
As part of a randomized clinical trial, the first electrocardiogram (ECG) after primary PCI for STEMI was analyzed for the incidence of Q waves (>0.1 mV) on the 12-lead ECG. Infarct size was measured as area under curve (AUC) of creatine kinase (CK) and CK-myocardial band (CK-MB).


CONCLUSIONS
Nine hundred thirty-three patients were included, the median number of Q waves on the postprocedural ECG was 3 (interquartile range, 1-4). The number of Q waves on the postprocedural ECG was an independent predictor of infarct size measured either as AUC of CK (P < .001) or AUC of CK-MB (P < .001) and was a significant predictor of mortality during follow-up of 14 months. In conclusion, the number of Q waves on the postprocedural 12-lead ECG after primary PCI for STEMI is a strong predictor of infarct size and long-term mortality.
Thoraxcenter, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. p.a.van.der.vleuten@thorax.umcg.nl
Pieter A
PA
van der Vleuten
Mathijs
M
Vogelzang
Tone
T
Svilaas
Iwan C C
IC
van der Horst
René A
RA
Tio
Felix
F
Zijlstra
D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome