title: T wave abnormalities identify patients with previous lateral wall myocardial infarction and circumflex artery disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diagnosis of previous lateral myocardial infarction is based on QRS morphology.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the diagnostic role of T wave abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 166 patients with known or suspected ischemic heart disease who underwent a 12-lead electrocardiogram, myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, and coronary arteriography within 90days. We excluded patients with bundle-branch block, hypertrophy, or paced rhythm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only one patient had a prominent R wave in V1, no patient showed lateral Q waves of necrosis. T wave amplitude in V2-V6 ≥0.6mV, and T wave amplitude in lead 1+V6 ≤0mV detected a lateral infarction (sensitivity 33 and 44%, specificity 83 and 80%). T wave amplitude in lead 1+V6 ≤0mV was the only independent predictor of infarction or LCx occlusion (AUC 0.72 and 0.74). Serum potassium values were not associated with T wave abnormalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T wave abnormalities identify previous lateral infarction and LCx disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: drovai@ifc.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rovai
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Cardiothoracic Department, Via Trieste 41, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: gimelli@ftgm.it.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gimelli
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Cardiothoracic Department, Via Trieste 41, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: michecoc@ftgm.it.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coceani
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Cardiothoracic Department, Via Trieste 41, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: francesco.sbrana@ftgm.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sbrana
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: gabri_maso@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: rossigi@ifc.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Coronary angiography; Electrocardiography; Myocardial infarction; Perfusion; Scintigraphy