[Influence of diabetes on the clinical course and hospital mortality of patients with recent myocardial infarction]. / Wplyw cukrzycy na przebieg kliniczny i smiertelnosc wewnatrzszpitalna chorych ze swiezym zawalem serca.

In group of 1026 patients with recent myocardial infarction (from program "Streptokinase in acute myocardial infarction"--patients below 70 years old, up to 12 hours from the onset of the symptoms) we analyzed the influence of diabetes on clinical course and hospital mortality. In this group were 77 patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM), and 21 patients were insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM). The risk factors of coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction in the past were significantly more often in patients with diabetes than in subjects without diabetes. In hospital mortality was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in group of patients with diabetes (17.3%) than in group without diabetes (9.5%). Reinfarction in the hospital period occurred significantly more often in diabetes group (p < 0.01). Congestive heart failure was observed in 50% patients with diabetes and in 32.3% cases without diabetes (p < 0.01), the left ventricle aneurysm occurred accordingly 9.8% i 5.2% (N.S.). Early ventricular fibrillation and atrio-ventricular blocks occurred with the same frequency in the both groups. We analyzed also the influence of thrombolytic therapy on clinical course in patients with diabetes proving the benefit of this treatment.

[A method of averaged ECG signal does not identify patients with ventricular tachycardia in disorders of intraventricular conduction]. / Technika usredniania sygnalu EKG nie pozwala na wyodrebnienie chorych z czestoskurczem komorowym przy zaburzeniach przewodnictwa sródkomorowego.

Conduction defect are known to delay and fragment the ecg signal and may be expected to cause changes on the signal-averaged ecg that mimic ventricular late potentials. The aim of our study was to asses whether signal-averaged ECG (SAE) identify patients (pts) with sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) after myocardial infarction (MI) who display right or left bundle branch block (RBBB or LBBB). We studied 23 pts with RBBB and 25 pts with LBBB. SEA was recorded with bidirectional filters at 25-250 HZ and 40-250 Hz using Simson method. The total filtered QRS duration (QRSd), root mean square voltage in the terminal 40ms of the QRS (RMS40) and low amplitude signal duration less than 40uV (LAS40)) were measured. Signal-averaged parameters with a filter at 25-250 Hz were: [table: see text] Signal-averaged parameters with a filter at 40-259 Hz were: [table: see text] In conclusion SAE parameters do not allow separation of pts with sustained VT from pts with RBBB or LBBB after MI. These data indicate that conduction defects have effects on signal-averaged ecg parameters and may result in masking of ventricular late potentials.

[Value of recording late ventricular potentials in patients with a history of myocardial infarction]. / Znaczenie rejestracji póznych potencjalów komorowych u chorych z przebytym zawalem serca.

The aim of the work was to determine the values of the registration of late ventricular potentials (PPK) in order to identify patients with paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia following myocardial infarction. PPK was found in 26 out of 30 patients (87%) with episodes of ventricular tachycardia and only in 6 out of 50 (12%) patients without such rhythm disorders following myocardial infarction (p less than 0.001). No PPK were found in any of 25 healthy persons of the control group. No significant difference was found in the frequency of complex ventricular extrasystolic beats (III-V cl. according to Lown) in 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram between patients with paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia (47%) and patients without such episodes in anamnesis (30%). The recording of PPK in chest surface leads makes it possible to identify patients with paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia following cardiac infarct.

Prognostic significance of late potentials after myocardial infarction.

Signal-averaged electrocardiograms (ECGs) were registered before hospital discharge in 120 consecutive patients (pts) with first acute myocardial infarction (MI). 26 pts (22%) had abnormal signal-averaged ECGs - late potentials (LP). Pts with LP had a more serious clinical course than pts without LP: sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) (27% vs. 2%; p less than 0.01), left ventricular aneurysm (35% vs. 11%; p much less than 0.05) and greater infarct size (62 +/- 35 vs. 43 +/- 22 CK-MB gEq; p less than 0.01). Complex ventricular ectopic activity was more often in pts with LP than in those without LP (54% vs. 28%; p less than 0.05). During an up to 18-month follow-up (mean 13) 6 pts presented sustained VT and 2 died suddenly. 5 pts with sustained VT and 2 pts who died suddenly had LP. The sensitivity of the signal-averaged ECG as a predictor of arrhythmic events was 86%, with a specificity of 82%. Signal-averaged ECGs provide prognostic information in identifying arrhythmic events after MI.