Spatial variation of QT intervals in normal persons and patients with acute myocardial infarction

The QT interval is a clinically important electrocardiographic measurement. This study attempted to determine 1) whether this interval was spatially distributed in a physiologically meaningful way on the torso of normal subjects, and 2) if these spatial patterns were altered in patients with acute myocardial infarction. To do so, 30 patients were studied within 72 hours of the onset of acute myocardial infarction (15 with an anterior and 15 with a posterior lesion) along with 50 normal control subjects. Electrocardiographic signals were registered from 150 torso electrodes; the QT interval in each lead was determined by a combined automated-manual method, and the durations displayed as "isointerval maps." In the normal subjects, the difference between the longest and shortest interval in each case was 59.4 +/- 12.9 ms. Long QT intervals were spatially located over the left lateral torso and short QT intervals were found over the right inferior chest. Acute infarction modified this distribution in relation to lesion location; the longest QT intervals were centrally positioned in anterior infarction and caudally located in inferior infarction. Thus, QT intervals in normal and abnormal states have distinctive spatial distributions that are consistent with known regional myocardial electrophysiology.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Alan, M. S. Ulgen, M. Soker, F. Geyik, A. Karabulut, and N. Toprak Electrocardiologic and Echocardiographic Features of Patients Exposed to Scorpion Bite Angiology, January 1, 2004; 55(1): 79 - 84. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. P. Nash, C. P. Bradley, and D. J. Paterson Imaging Electrocardiographic Dispersion of Depolarization and Repolarization During Ischemia: Simultaneous Body Surface and Epicardial Mapping Circulation, May 6, 2003; 107(17): 2257 - 2263. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Sosnowski, Z. Czyz, and M. Tendera Time and frequency analysis of beat-to-beat R-T interval variability in patients with ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction providing evidence for non-neural control of ventricular repolarisation Eur J Heart Fail, December 1, 2002; 4(6): 737 - 743. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Parchure, V. Batchvarov, M. Malik, A John Camm, and J. Carlos Kaski Increased QT dispersion in patients with Prinzmetal's variant angina and cardiac arrest Cardiovasc Res, May 1, 2001; 50(2): 379 - 385. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. G. Priori, R. Bloise, and L. Crotti The long QT syndrome Europace, January 1, 2001; 3(1): 16 - 27. [PDF]

				M. Malik and V. N. Batchvarov Measurement, interpretation and clinical potential of QT dispersion J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., November 15, 2000; 36(6): 1749 - 1766. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. S. Fuller, G. Sandor, B. Punske, B. Taccardi, R. S. MacLeod, P. R. Ershler, L. S. Green, and R. L. Lux Estimates of Repolarization Dispersion From Electrocardiographic Measurements Circulation, August 8, 2000; 102(6): 685 - 691. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Yetkin, M. Ileri, I. Tandogan, M. Boran, A. Yanik, I. Hisar, M. Kutlu, S. Cehreli, S. Korkmaz, S. Goksel, et al. Increased QT Interval Dispersion After Hemodialysis: Role of Peridialytic Electrolyte Gradients Angiology, June 1, 2000; 51(6): 499 - 504. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Paventi, U. Bevilacqua, M. A. Parafati, E. Di Luzio, F. Rossi, P. R. Pelliccioni, and S. Paventi QT Dispersion and Early Arrhythmic Risk During Acute Myocardial Infarction Angiology, March 1, 1999; 50(3): 209 - 215. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. W MACFARLANE Measurement of QT dispersion Heart, November 1, 1998; 80(5): 421 - 423. [Full Text]

				Y Gang, X-h Guo, R Crook, K Hnatkova, A J Camm, and M Malik Computerised measurements of QT dispersion in healthy subjects Heart, November 1, 1998; 80(5): 459 - 466. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Suzuki, M. Nishizaki, M. Arita, T. Ashikaga, N. Yamawake, T. Kakuta, F. Numano, and M. Hiraoka Increased QT Dispersion in Patients With Vasospastic Angina Circulation, August 4, 1998; 98(5): 435 - 440. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Coumel, P. Maison-Blanche, and F. Badilini Dispersion of Ventricular Repolarization : Reality? Illusion? Significance? Circulation, June 30, 1998; 97(25): 2491 - 2493. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. G. Priori, D. W. Mortara, C. Napolitano, L. Diehl, V. Paganini, F. Cantu, G. Cantu, and P. J. Schwartz Evaluation of the Spatial Aspects of T-Wave Complexity in the Long-QT Syndrome Circulation, November 4, 1997; 96(9): 3006 - 3012. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M Zaidi, A Robert, R Fesler, C Derwael, and C Brohet Dispersion of ventricular repolarisation: a marker of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with previous myocardial infarction Heart, October 1, 1997; 78(4): 371 - 375. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]