ECG Criteria Differentiate Benign Early Repolarization from STEMI

An equation using objective electrocardiogram parameters had a sensitivity of 86% for identifying STEMI.

To develop a formula for distinguishing ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) from benign early repolarization, investigators retrospectively compared electrocardiogram measurements from patients at two hospitals in Minnesota. STEMI was defined as ST elevation in a patient with angiographic documentation of occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and TIMI 0 or 1 flow. STEMI cases that were “obvious” were excluded. Early repolarization was defined as an ECG diagnosis of “early repolarization” by a cardiologist in a patient with at least three negative troponin I results.

In a derivation cohort (60 patients with STEMI and 70 with early repolarization), the researchers identified three ECG criteria that independen…

Reviewing Author

Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardPortola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Speaker’s BureauPeerView Institute for Medical Education

Grant/Research SupportAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality; CDC; NIH–National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; NIH–National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); NIH–NIAID–Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group; Merck; Pfizer; Boehringer-Ingelheim; Shire; Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Novartis; bioMérieux; Siemens; Rapid Pathogen Screening; Magnolia; Stago; Innovative Biosensors; Molecular Detection, Inc.; Dyax Corp.; Trius Pharmaceuticals

Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardPortola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Speaker’s BureauPeerView Institute for Medical Education