[Significance of inferior ST segment changes in acute anterior myocardial infarction--relationship between the distribution of left anterior descending artery and concomitant ischemia of the inferior wall].

The significance of inferior ST segment changes was studied in 23 patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction by the distribution of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) after percutaneous transluminal coronary recanalization. In 9 patients (Group A) LAD supplied the anterior wall of the left ventricle up to or including the apex but did not reach the inferior wall; in 8 patients (Group B) it continued beyond the apex onto the inferior wall of the left ventricle with well developed collateral circulation; in 6 patients (Group C) it continued beyond the apex onto the inferior wall of the left ventricle with less-developed or no collateral circulation. Thallium-201 scintigraphy and contrast left ventriculography showed that inferior myocardial ischemia was significantly more prominent in Group C than Group A. These results were consistent with coronary anatomy. Inferior ST segment was significantly more depressed in Group A with no concomitant inferior wall ischemia, than in Group C with concomitant inferior wall ischemia (maximal inferior ST segment change: -1.7 +/- 1.1; 0.8 +/- 1.7 mm, respectively; p less than 0.02). In Group A inferior ST segment was depressed in all 6 patients with lateral ST segment elevation, but it was depressed in only one of 3 patients with no lateral ST segment change. Lateral ST segment elevation tended to cause inferior ST segment depression. This study indicates that the inferior ST segment changes in patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction depend on concomitant ischemia of the inferior wall of the left ventricle by the distribution of LAD and the lateral ST segment changes.