Exercise testing early after myocardial infarction.

A consecutive series of 179 survivors of acute myocardial infarction had a symptom-limited 12-lead electrocardiographic treadmill exercise test, coronary angiographic studies, and left ventriculograms six to eight weeks after infarction. The exercise-induced ST-segment responses were correlated with the presence of multivessel disease, the presence of advanced left ventricular wall motion abnormalities (LVWMA), and ejection fraction. Each type of ST-segment response in patients after infarction has its own specific predictive value. ST-segment depression indicated multivessel disease. ST-segment elevation indicated advanced LVWMA and low ejection fraction. Concomitant ST-segment depression and ST-segment elevation indicated both multivessel disease and advanced LVWMA.