Influence of anterograde flow in the infarct artery on the incidence of late potentials after acute myocardial infarction

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology Vol. 65; no. 9; pp. 554 - 558
• Main Authors: Lange, Richard A., Cigarroa, Ricardo G., Wells, Peter J., Kremers, Mark S., Hillis, L.David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.03.1990; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Circulation - physiology; Coronary heart disease; Electrocardiography - methods; Female; Heart; Heart Conduction System - physiopathology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction - mortality; Myocardial Infarction - physiopathology; Prognosis; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Human; Electrodiagnosis; Infarct; Retarded potential; Anterograde; Sudden death; Myocardium; Cardiovascular disease; Hemodynamics; Coronary heart disease; Artery; Blood flow
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/0002-9149(90)91030-A

In patients after myocardial infarction, survival is influenced by the presence or absence of anterograde flow in the infarct artery, and late potentials on signal-averaged electrocardiography identify those at risk for tachyarrhythmias and sudden death. To assess the frequency of late potentials in survivors of first infarction, coronary arteriography and signal-averaged electrocardiography were performed in 109 subjects (64 men, 45 women, aged 30 to 77 years), 49 with (group I) and 60 without (group II) anterograde flow in the infarct artery. The groups were similar in age, sex, infarct artery, severity of coronary artery disease and left ventricular function. However, only 4 (8%) of group I had late potentials, whereas 24 (40%) of group II had late potentials (p < 0.001). Thus, anterograde flow in the infarct artery after myocardial infarction is associated with a low incidence of late potentials on signal-averaged electrocardiography, whereas the absence of anterograde flow is more often associated with late potentials.