Application of the Minnesota Code in evaluating electrocardiographic features of ischemic heart disease in patients exposed to carbon disulphide.

We examined 81 men exposed for a long time to carbon disulphide (CS2) and tested the possible electrocardiographic (ECG) changes of ischemic heart disease (I.H.D.). The subjects were examined twice in two years. In order to make the ECG evaluation more objective, the Minnesota Code was applied. Two obligatory ECG examinations and only one submaximal effort test were carried out. For comparative evaluation, the control group was examined once. We proved that, in spite of the accepted opinion concerning the atheromatous action of CS2, this compound does not cause ECG symptoms of I.H.D. in a higher percentage of exposed persons. It also does not cause any significant increase in I.H.D. symptoms in dynamic ECG observations.