[Characteristics of the course of posterior diaphragmatic myocardial infarction in patients with depression of the ST segment in precordial ECG leads].

The course of acute posterior diaphragmatic myocardial infarction (MI) was evaluated in 82 in-patients, with 47 of those followed up after the discharge. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those without and with ST depression in precordial ECG leads (groups 1 and 2, respectively). MI took a more severe course in the second group. Heart failure and high-grade ventricular extrasystoles were significantly more common both in and after hospital in such patients. Atrioventricular blocks, cardiogenic shock and recurrences during hospital stay prevailed in the second group. After the discharge, they showed a higher mortality rate and significantly more frequent exacerbations of coronary disease, including all cases of repeated macrofocal MI. This suggests that patients with posterior-diaphragmatic MI and ST depression in precordial ECG leads have a poorer immediate and long-term prognosis and can be designated a high-risk group.