Hans Schaefer's asystole: two case reports.

Two cases of myocardial infarction are reported with transient (case 1) or permanent (Case 2) recovery of an R wave in anterior chest leads in the acute epsiode. This observation confirms H. Schaefer's hypothesis of asystole of the affected area, i.e. electrical inexcitability without necrosis. This phase precedes necrosis in any acute infarction; in the large majority of cases, myocardial infarction ultimately develops; therefore, demonstration in a clinical follow-up is quite rare.