Background: The body surface potential mapping (BSPM) method is sensitive in detecting minor electrical potential abnormalities, but its diagnostic value is unclear in detection and localization of significant coronary artery lesion (CAL) in patients after angina pectoris and without ischemic electrocardiogram abnormalities at the time of the BSPM record.
Methods and results: Characteristic features and quantitative parameters of the isopotential maps during the depolarization were evaluated and compared with the result of coronary angiography in 228 patients (164 males; age, 61.6 +/- 9.5 years). Twenty-three of them had their first angina, but the others had a history of earlier angina, unstable angina, non-ST-elevation infarction. Fifty-nine healthy subjects (32 males; age, 53.3 +/- 12.2 years) served as control. The diagnostic power was high in detection of CAL among patients with previous ischemic events, but it was low in first angina. The accuracy of the CAL localization by multiple regression was different: at 90% specificity level, the sensitivity was near 80% for right/posterior descending CAL and slightly more than 60% for left anterior descending CAL but only 19% for first marginal/first diagonal CAL.
Conclusions: The BSPM changes during the depolarization could well indicate CAL only after previous ischemic events. Sensitivity and specificity of the CAL localization depended on the extension and location of the underlying myocardium damage.
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