title: Ischemic-appearing electrocardiographic changes predict myocardial injury in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Myocardial injury is common among patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, it is challenging for emergency physicians to recognize acute myocardial injury in this population, as electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities are common in this setting. Our objective is to examine whether ischemic-appearing ECG changes predict subsequent myocardial injury in the context of ICH.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with primary ICH presenting to a single academic center were prospectively enrolled. Electrocardiograms were retrospectively reviewed by 3 independent readers. Anatomical areas of ischemia were defined as I and aVL; II, III, and aVF; V(1) to V(4); and V(5) and V(6). Medical record review identified myocardial injury, defined as troponin I or T elevation (cutoff 1.5 and 0.1 ng/mL, respectively), within 30 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1998 and 2004, 218 patients presented directly to our emergency department and did not have a do-not-resuscitate/do-not-intubate order; arrival ECGs and troponin levels were available for 206 patients. Ischemic-appearing changes were noted in 41% of patients, and myocardial injury was noted in 12% of patients. Ischemic-appearing changes were more common in patients with subsequent injury (64% vs 37%; P = .02). After multivariable analysis controlling for age and cardiac risk factors, ischemic-appearing ECG changes independently predicted myocardial injury (odds ratio, 3.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-8.2). In an exploratory analysis, ischemic-appearing ECG changes in leads I and aVL as well as V(5) and V(6) were more specific for myocardial injury (P = .002 and P = .03, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, although a range of ECG abnormalities can occur after ICH, the finding of ischemic-appearing changes in an anatomical distribution can help predict which patients are having true myocardial injury.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors: Kohei
authors: K
authors: Hasegawa
authors: Megan L
authors: ML
authors: Fix
authors: Lauren
authors: L
authors: Wendell
authors: Kristin
authors: K
authors: Schwab
authors: Hakan
authors: H
authors: Ay
authors: Eric E
authors: EE
authors: Smith
authors: Steven M
authors: SM
authors: Greenberg
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Rosand
authors: Joshua N
authors: JN
authors: Goldstein
authors: David F M
authors: DF
authors: Brown
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood; D020107:Troponin T / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D019210:Troponin I; D020107:Troponin T