To examine whether coronary occlusion causing transmural ischemia was accurately reflected by ST-segment elevation on routine electrocardiograms, intracoronary and surface electrocardiograms were simultaneously recorded during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). The study group consisted of 54 patients who had intracoronary ST-segment elevation during transient coronary occlusion (left anterior descending [LAD]: 25 patients, left circumflex [LC]: 19 patients, right coronary artery: 12 patients). Elevation of the ST segment on the surface electrocardiogram (greater than or equal to 0.1 mV) was recorded in 84% of patients during LAD dilatation, in 32% of patients during LC dilatation (p less than 0.01 vs LAD and right), and in 92% of patients during right coronary dilatation (not significant vs LAD). The magnitude of intracoronary ST elevation was 1.10 +/- 0.8, 1.68 +/- 1.2 and 0.8 +/- 0.6 mV for the LAD, LC and right occlusions, respectively (not significant). Thus, despite the comparable magnitude of intracoronary ST elevation, LC occlusion resulted in ST-segment elevation on the surface electrocardiogram in significantly fewer patients than did LAD or right occlusion. During LC occlusion, 9 patients had no electrocardiographic changes and 4 had only precordial ST depression. Thus, in patients with transmural ischemia during right or LAD occlusions, concordant ST elevation on the surface electrocardiogram is common. In contrast, ST-segment elevation is an insensitive marker of LC occlusion. In patients with ongoing ischemic symptoms and isolated precordial ST depression or no repolarization abnormalities, LC occlusion should be considered in the differential diagnosis.