A polygraph study of ischemic heart disease: behavior of systolic times in acute myocardial infarction.

ABSTRACT

The authors investigated systolic time intervals in 28 cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Polygraph recordings were made on the first day of illness and repeated at two, three, five, and seven hospital days. The patients were divided into two groups one with a contributory history of ischemic and/or hypertensive heart disease (Group PH for "positive history") and one without such history (Group NH for "negative history"). The influence of numerous variables on systolic times were explored in both groups, and the emerging data were processed by multiple stepwise regression analysis. The results show that the left ventricular ejection time (LVET) is invariably shortened in AMI, whereas the pre-ejection indices (PEP and ICT) afford definite differentiation of patients of Group PH (with lengthened PEP and ICT values) from those of Group NH (shortened PEP and ICT). The authors emphasize the importance of obtaining polygraph recordings very early in the course of AMI and of taking into account the patient's history in view of a correct assessment of pre-ejection times.