Clinical research
ST-segment changes in high-resolution body surface potential maps measured during exercise to assess myocardial ischemia: a pilot study
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Submission date: 2013-10-22
Final revision date: 2013-12-04
Acceptance date: 2013-12-06
Online publication date: 2014-07-02
Publication date: 2014-12-17
Arch Med Sci 2014;10(6):1086-1090
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Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess myocardial ischemia by analysis of ST-segment changes in high-resolution body surface potential maps (HR-BSPM) measured at rest and during an exercise stress test.
Material and methods: The study was carried out on a group of 28 patients with stable coronary artery disease and 15 healthy volunteers. The HR-BSPM were measured at rest and during the exercise stress test on a supine ergometer. The workload was increased in stages by 25 W every 2 min, beginning at 50 W. The maps of ST-segment depression (ST60) were calculated from time averaged recordings at rest and at maximal workload.
Results: The efficiency in detection of myocardial ischemia was higher for HR-BSPM than for standard 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) when both methods were evaluated by outcomes of coronarography. The sensitivity of HR-BSPM was 82.4% while for the standard 12-lead ECG exercise stress test it was 58.8%. For some patients significant changes in the ST segment were observed at stress HR-BSPM but were not visible in standard 12-lead ECG recorded under the same conditions.
Conclusions: Obtained high values of sensitivity and specificity in myocardial ischemia detection suggest that maps of ST60 calculated from HR-BSPM can improve detection of patients with ischemic heart disease in comparison to the standard electrocardiographic exercise stress test examinations.