EVALUATION OF THE RELATION BETWEEN ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC CHANGES DURING EXERCISE TEST AND ANATOMY OF CORONARY ARTERY IN CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY

Abstract

Background and Objectives- Although exercise test is a highly reliable procedure for diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD), its value in assessing the extent and severity of CAD is yet unexplained. The present study aims to examine the relation between severity of ST segment depression in treadmill exercise test and left ventricular performance, number of involved arteries and severity of coronary artery disease. <br />Patients and Methods- This prospective, cross-sectional case control study of 103 patients was conducted in 1995 at Shahid Rajaie Heart Center, Tehran, Iran. The inclusion criteria were a) having stable angina pectoris, having abnormal exercise test findings, being a candidate for coronary angiography and b) having abnormal coronary angiography findings and being a candidate for exercise test. Any evidence of unstable angina pectoris, or history of myocardial infarction or other heart disease comprised the exclusion criteria. <br />Findings- ST segment depression in V4-V6 chest leads upon exercise test were meaningfully related to triple-vessel disease. However, no relation was found between severity and timing of ST segment depression in exercise test and triple-vessel disease. Depression of ST segment in the inferior chest leads with exercise test was an indicator of single-vessel disease; nevertheless, it did not suggest the disease of any particular vessel. No relation was observed between ST segment depression in exercise test and left ventricular dysfunction. The prevalence of ST segment elevation during exercise test was low and there were no statistically significant findings