Non-invasive computerised detection of acute coronary occlusion

"ECG variability contour" method reveals amplitude changes in both ischemic patients and normal subjects during Dipyridamole stress: a preliminary report

To detect and quantify consistent ECG amplitude changes, the "ECG variability contour" (EVC) method was proposed. Using this method we investigated amplitude changes in subjects undergoing myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with Dipyridamole (Dp). Fifty-three patients having reversible perfusion defects and 19 normal subjects (NS) who were free of: perfusion defects on their MPI, standard ST-T changes during Dp stress, and a negative clinical follow up. Mean ∏¹(<∏¹>) was similar for the NS and patient group (6.2 ± 6.1 vs. 6.3 ± 6.2, P = 0.95). <∏¹> was 4.6 ± 3.0 in patients not having ST-T changes during Dp stress (n = 42), whereas in patients having ST-T changes (n = 11) it was 13.1 ± 10.2 (P < 0.001). For both groups <∏(QRS)> was smaller than <∏(ST)>, which in turn was smaller than <∏(T)>. The values of <∏(QRS)>, <∏(ST)>, and <∏(T)> for the NS, patients without and with ST-T changes were: 26.8 ± 28.6, 42.6 ± 41.8, 44.9 ± 36.5; 19.6 ± 20.8, 26.4 ± 31.4, 38.7 ± 27.3; 51.0 ± 30.0, 71.0 ± 36.8, 75.1 ± 20.9, respectively (P < 0.05 for all comparisons of patients with versus without ST-T changes). This study showed that Dp stress, with or without hypoperfusion, had a clear effect on myocyte electrophysiology, expressed by consistent ECG amplitude changes, detected by the EVC method. The EVC method did not distinguish between NS and patients in this clinical setting.

Changes in the initial slope of the QRS in ischemic patients and normal subjects undergoing scintigraphy with dipyridamole

The effect of dipyridamole (Dp) on the linear portion of the first major deflection of the QRS in human electrocardiograms (which we refer to as Fslope) was investigated in the context of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), in normal subjects (NS, n=19) and in patients with cardiovascular ischemia (as manifested by a positive MPI scan, n=53). In the majority of participants, Fslope decreased (84% of 19 NS and 77% of 53 patients, p=0.69). The decrease in Fslope was more pronounced in patients with ST-T deviation as compared to those without (32.6±24.5 vs. 22.4±23.1, p=0.24), and in patients vs. NS (24.9±23.5 vs. 19.6±23.4, p=0.44). A change in Fslope is a sensitive (but not specific) measure for detecting the effect of Dp on the myocardium in the setting of scintigraphy.