QRS score as an indicator of myocardial viability after thrombolytic therapy

• Published in: Journal of electrocardiology Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 185 - 190
• Main Authors: Walamies, Markku A., Siitonen, Simo L., Koskinen, Matti O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Orlando, FL Elsevier Inc 01.07.1995; Philadelphia, PA Churchill Livingstone
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Blood. Blood coagulation. Reticuloendothelial system; electrocardiographic scoring; Electrocardiography; fatty acid scintigraphy; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Female; Fibrinolytic Agents - therapeutic use; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; myocardial infarction; Myocardial Infarction - diagnostic imaging; Myocardial Infarction - drug therapy; Myocardial Infarction - metabolism; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; postischemic dysfunction; Radionuclide Imaging; Retrospective Studies; thrombolytic therapy; thrombolytic therapy; postischemic dysfunction; electrocardiographic scoring; fatty acid scintigraphy; myocardial infarction; Human; Infarct; QRS interval; Cardiovascular disease; Exploration; Coronary heart disease; Electrodiagnosis; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Electrocardiography; Myocardium; Viability; Fibrinolytic
• ISSN: 0022-0736; 1532-8430
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-0736(05)80256-0

Electrocardiographic estimation of myocardial injury has, in some studies, correlated poorly with the extent of nuclear perfusion defects at rest and with changes in the left ventricular ejection fraction after acute reperfusion therapy. The authors investigated 16 patients with fatty acid scintigraphy and with the Selvester-Wagner QRS score 2 weeks and 3 months after an anterior myocardial infarction. Segmental uptake on tomographic scans was semiquantitatively classified as low, moderate, or normal. The analysis included a total of 707 segments. QRS scores and the number of segments with low fatty acid uptake did not significantly change during the follow-up period, although the number of segments with moderate fatty acid uptake decreased from 15.9 ± 5.1 to 12.4 ± 5.7 ( P < .05). The QRS score correlated significantly (rho = .56−.64) with low fatty acid uptake, but not with moderate fatty acid uptake. It is concluded that the QRS score is related to the degree of permanent myocardial injury, even after thrombolysis