Ideal isoelectric reference segment in pericarditis: a suggested approach to a commonly prevailing clinical misconception.
Individual practice patterns of cardiologists and internists vary in interpreting electrocardiograms by measuring and defining significant ST deviation using different segments as isoelectric references. Even standard electrocardiography textbooks and recent literature studies provide variable opinions for using isoelectric references and measurement of ST-segment deflections. In our current manuscript, we aim to define a standard baseline/isoelectric segment using a short literature review and also to share our opinion for the use of a standard isoelectric reference for patients of pericarditis which is one of the commonest causes of nonischemic ST-segment elevation.
Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Vincent Hospital, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. lovids@hotmail.com
Lovely
L
Chhabra
David H
DH
Spodick
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012016:Reference Values