Premium
DEVELOPMENT OFT‐WAVE ALTERNANS AND HEART RATE VARIABILITY AFTER MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION
Author(s) -
Patzak Andreas Reinhold,
Patzak Gabriele,
Kupsch Eckehardt,
Theres Heinz,
Mrowka Ralf
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a324-a
Subject(s) - t wave alternans , cardiology , medicine , myocardial infarction , heart rate variability , sudden cardiac death , heart rate , spectral analysis , physics , blood pressure , quantum mechanics , spectroscopy
The aim of the present study was to investigate T‐wave alternans (μV‐TWA) and heart rate variability (HRV), which have a prognostic value for sudden cardiac death, after myocardial infarction (MI). 17 patients of both sex with MI and thrombolytic therapy were included. The Frank ECG (lead x, y, z, vector) was measured within the first 8 and 24 hours, after 3 and 7 days as well as at day of release. Recording time was 10 min. μV‐TWA was calculated according to Rosenbaum et al., N Engl J Med., 1994. Parameters were: maximal alternans of the repolarisation period in the ECG (MAR), integral of alternans‐ratio of the repolarisation (IAR), and the frequency of significant alternans (MAR>3). HRV was analyzed using spectral analysis of heart period durations. Parameters were: power in low frequency (LF: 0.05–0.15 Hz) and high frequency range (HF: 0.15–2.0 Hz), ratio LF/HF and total power (TP: 0.05–2.0 Hz). μV‐TWA occurred with a frequency between 27% (8 h) and 42% (7 d) after MI, taking all leads into consideration (ANOVA n.s.). μV‐TWA occurred in at least one lead in 55% (8 h) to 79% (7 d) of the measurements (ANOVA n.s.). MAR, IAR, and MAR>3 did not change significantly during time after MI. LF/HF decreased in the course after MI. The results indicate that μV‐TWA is possibly notrelated to the ischemic event. The development of LF/HF hints at an increase in vagal influences on the heart after MI.