Changes in the T-wave vector loop of the three-dimensional vectorcardiogram during exposure to cold pressor stress.

Three-dimensional vectorcardiography was used to characterize changes in the T-wave vector loop during exposure to cold pressor stress. Data were collected from 8 subjects during baseline, cold pressor, and recovery periods. Maximum vector length, polar angle of the longest vector, azimuth angle of the longest vector, sum of all vectors, polar angle of the vector sum, azimuth angle of the vector sum, surface area of the loop, and maximum distance between adjacent vectors were computed from the T-wave vector loop. The amplitude of the one-dimensional T-wave (TWA) was also computed. Interbeat interval and TWA decreased during hand immersion and increased during recovery. Of the vectorcardiographic measures, only maximum vector length and vector sum showed statistically significant change; both decreased during the task and returned to baseline during recovery. TWA accounted for 46% of the task related variance compared to 53% and 47% respectively, for vector sum and maximum vector length. Changes in TWA probably reflect a true change in cardiac electrical potential rather than a change in T-wave vector loop shape or orientation.