A 45-year-old male was in his usual state of health until three hours prior to arrival, when he developed left-sided chest pressure with radiation to the neck while walking. His pre-hospital ECG is identical to the first emergency department ECG shown in Figure 1. Based on this, the paramedics activated the cath lab, administered nitroglycerin, and the pain resolved.
This is when the Early Repolarization vs LAD Occlusion Equation can be applied – STE60V3 is 4 mm, QTc is 416ms, and RA-V4 is 15mm. Plugging these values in yields 23.753. Being > 23.4, the equation points to STEMI. The specificity of the rule is not perfect, but a value above 23.4 should at least prompt you to aggressively evaluate the patient.
As for the patient’s clinical course, his chest pressure resolved. A bedside emergency department echocardiogram (not a formal echo) reportedly showed no wall motion abnormality. The equation was not used. The cath lab was de-activated. A repeat ECG showed less ST-elevation:
An application of the Early Repolarization vs LAD Occlusion Equation has equivocal results, depending on whether the STE60V3 is measured at 1.5 or 2.0 mm. Nevertheless, the change shows that the previous ECG was indeed due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Remember – not all ACS has a positive troponin! When negative, it is – of course – called “unstable angina.” It usually presents with a normal or nonspecific ECG, with ST-depression, or T-wave inversion – but unstable angina may also present with transient ST-segment elevation. Perhaps more disgruntling, transient ST-elevation does not always result in a positive troponin. The ischemia may resolve so quickly that there is both no wall motion abnormality and the troponin is negative!
With the advent of high-sensitivity troponin in the future, perhaps such cases will become more rare. But this increased sensitivity may come at the expense of worse specificity, or more false positive troponins.
The patient ruled out for acute MI with serial troponins remaining < 0.04 ng/ml (using a sensitive troponin assay). And so the patient was discharged. Yet 13 days later, he again presented with chest pain that again resolved. Another ECG was done after resolution of pain, as seen in Figure 3.
This time troponin was positive, and the patient underwent coronary angiography, which showed severe subtotal left anterior descending artery disease and 70% left main disease. He underwent coronary artery bypass surgery.
Lessons
1. This case illustrates the importance of paying close attention to the ECG and its evolution. The initial ECG is extremely difficult to differentiate from early repol, though the formula did so handily. But the diagnosis is much easier if one pays attention to the change on the subsequent ECG. With the formula applied, this patient’s ACS could’ve have been diagnosed earlier. He could easily have died in spite of a negative troponin.
2. Serial negative troponins do not rule out ACS. One still must pay attention to the ECG.
3. If a formal echo had been done the next day, it most likely would have been normal as well: stunning in such cases resolves quickly. See this case. And this case.
 |
| There is at least 2-mm ST-elevation at the J-point in leads V2 and V3, but the morphology of the T-wave is typical of early repolarization (slow upstroke, fast downstroke). There is minimal ST elevation in leads I, aVL, V5, and V6. There is no inferior ST-depression, no upward convexity, no precordial T-wave inversion, no Q-waves, and no terminal QRS distortion. There is some lateral ST elevation also: V5, V6, I, aVL, although none of it unambiguously diagnostic. |
This is when the Early Repolarization vs LAD Occlusion Equation can be applied – STE60V3 is 4 mm, QTc is 416ms, and RA-V4 is 15mm. Plugging these values in yields 23.753. Being > 23.4, the equation points to STEMI. The specificity of the rule is not perfect, but a value above 23.4 should at least prompt you to aggressively evaluate the patient.
As for the patient’s clinical course, his chest pressure resolved. A bedside emergency department echocardiogram (not a formal echo) reportedly showed no wall motion abnormality. The equation was not used. The cath lab was de-activated. A repeat ECG showed less ST-elevation:
 |
| In the second ECG, V2-V5 have less ST-elevation and the T-waves are smaller. It appears normal, different from the presenting ECG. This apparently was not noticed, or its diagnostic significance was not appreciated. |
An application of the Early Repolarization vs LAD Occlusion Equation has equivocal results, depending on whether the STE60V3 is measured at 1.5 or 2.0 mm. Nevertheless, the change shows that the previous ECG was indeed due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Remember – not all ACS has a positive troponin! When negative, it is – of course – called “unstable angina.” It usually presents with a normal or nonspecific ECG, with ST-depression, or T-wave inversion – but unstable angina may also present with transient ST-segment elevation. Perhaps more disgruntling, transient ST-elevation does not always result in a positive troponin. The ischemia may resolve so quickly that there is both no wall motion abnormality and the troponin is negative!
With the advent of high-sensitivity troponin in the future, perhaps such cases will become more rare. But this increased sensitivity may come at the expense of worse specificity, or more false positive troponins.
The patient ruled out for acute MI with serial troponins remaining < 0.04 ng/ml (using a sensitive troponin assay). And so the patient was discharged. Yet 13 days later, he again presented with chest pain that again resolved. Another ECG was done after resolution of pain, as seen in Figure 3.
 |
| There is new T-wave inversion in I, aVL, V4-V6. There is terminal T-wave inversion (biphasic) in V2 and V3, but complicated by the U-waves seen in these leads. This T-wave inversion represents a form of Wellens’ syndrome, indicating spontaneous reperfusion of a brief left anterior descending coronary occlusion. |
This time troponin was positive, and the patient underwent coronary angiography, which showed severe subtotal left anterior descending artery disease and 70% left main disease. He underwent coronary artery bypass surgery.
Lessons
1. This case illustrates the importance of paying close attention to the ECG and its evolution. The initial ECG is extremely difficult to differentiate from early repol, though the formula did so handily. But the diagnosis is much easier if one pays attention to the change on the subsequent ECG. With the formula applied, this patient’s ACS could’ve have been diagnosed earlier. He could easily have died in spite of a negative troponin.
2. Serial negative troponins do not rule out ACS. One still must pay attention to the ECG.
3. If a formal echo had been done the next day, it most likely would have been normal as well: stunning in such cases resolves quickly. See this case. And this case.
Thank you for this marvelous case.
ReplyDeleteThere is some things i'd like to add. You wrote about troponin concentrations, ECG changes, Echo picture, but in my opinion in this case most important is clinical feature. There is a man with chest pain (pressure) associated with physical exercise and is releaved by nitroglycerine. So you have typical angina - what more for diagnosing UA?
Dynamic ECG picture is added value (less ST-elevation is not connected with change of rhythm so it is rather not caused by early repolarisation).
And one more thing. If you look carefully at I, II you can see PR depression with reflective PR elevation in aVR that persists in the other ECG - maybe kind of atrial ischemia or just my imagination ;)
Nice comments. Of course the typical pain gets ignored because of the age (which should not dissuade!)
DeleteOn the presenting ECG, lead V5:
ReplyDeleteMy eyes tell me that there is QRS distortion there (especially the middle complex), despite not meeting the current definition. To my eyes the ST elevation has invaded into the QRS complex and raised/obliterated the S wave. In fact, the "S-wave", if it is even actually present, doesn't even extend appreciably past the baseline - meaning it almost can't be called an S-wave.
This finding is absent in all the subsequent ECGs. In my very little and unqualified experience, this strikes me as potentially specific for acute occlusion (STEMI). I have yet to be mislead by this.
What do you think? Do you think we need a new definition of "QRS distortion"?
Pendell,
DeleteI've always thought of absence of S-wave as pretty normal in V5 and V6, but I'll have to pay more attention to that now. It is definitely abnormal to not have an S-wave in V2 and V3, but here they are present. You may be on to something. I'm not sure!
Steve
Dr. Smith,
ReplyDeleteIn the first ECG, there appears to be subtle ST elevation in lead II, and in the third ECG, there is again T wave inversion in lead II in addition to the others mentioned... It leaves me wondering if the apical wall is also affected?
thank you,
David
David,
Deletethe apex is usually involved in LAD occlusion, but does NOT usually have involvement of lead II, as here. I'm not sure why there is that finding, but good observation. There certainly was proximal LAD occlusion with anterolateral STEMI (I, aVL). But lead II? Not certain.
Steve
hi doctor
ReplyDeleteit's always instructive and a pleasure to read your posts, my question is about the Q wave present II and AVF on the ipresenting ECG ,? what is their signification ? why we don't assume they're due to ischemia ?
thank you
Yes, looks like an old inferior MI, but I don't think there was any other evidence of it.
DeleteSteve
Very instructive case! What about Grace score? A Grace score > 140 is associated with high mortality during first week and at 6 month so this kind of patient must be monitored/treated in hospital. Also, patients with unstable angina with intermediate score have to be assessed by treadmill ecg test or strain echo in the next 2-3 days.
ReplyDeleteThe Grace score would not have been very high because at the time it would be applied, he had normal vital signs and no previous medical history.
Delete