Electrocardiographic body surface potential maps of the QRS and T of normal young men. Qualitative description and selected quantifications.

A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the Body Surface Potential Maps (BSPM) of 40 young men, ages 19-41, is presented utilizing a 180 electrode system, with 135 anterior leads and 45 posterior leads. Evidence for epicardial right ventricular breakthrough was demonstrated in 36/40 at 27.9 +/- 6.8 ms, whereas our previous studies on normal children (average age 12.5 years) have demonstrated evidence for epicardial right ventricular breakthrough at 25.0 +/- 8.9 ms. The peak-to-peak magnitude at maximal potential (at 42.3 +/- 4.8 ms) was not significantly different from that of the children (4,430 +/- 1,165 microV), and the peak-to-peak magnitude of ST-T was virtually the same as that of the children (1,182 +/- 376.2 microV). The terminal activation pattern of late QRS on the body surface map appeared in the true posterior, anterior superior, posterior right superior and/or right anterior superior positions, in order of frequency. There were other regions appearing less frequently. In contrast, this pattern in children was seen only in the anterior superior, right anterior superior, posterior right superior, and true posterior in order of frequency. In 18/40, the body surface manifestation of repolarization was seen an average of 9.4 +/- 4.8 ms before the end of the QRS. A new pseudocolor display with 31 color levels representing body surface potentials allowed excellent resolution of isopotential detail.