[QRST isointegral map in dilated cardiomyopathy].

To evaluate the diagnostic usefulness and prognostic significance of QRST isointegral map in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), we performed body surface mapping, signal averaged electrocardiogram and thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy in 41 DCM patients. Late potentials (LP) were detected in 17 patients (41%). QRST isointegral subtraction map (QRST I-sub map: departure map, calculated from 40 normal subjects) showed -2 standard deviation area and departure indices at minimal point (DImin) were calculated in each case. Significant coefficients of correlation were observed between the DImin and root mean square voltage in last 40 ms (r = -0.435, p < 0.001). The abnormal scintigraphic patterns were discriminated into 3 groups: anteroseptal, inferoapical and posterolateral defects, which revealed separate distribution of minimal point in QRST I-sub map: F-G 4, G-H 2 and I-J 4, respectively. These results suggest that QRST isointegral map is useful for detecting the presence of LP (prognostic value) and the location of scintigraphic perfusion defect (diagnostic value) in DCM.