DEEP NEGATIVE T-WAVES AND ABNORMAL CARDIAC SYMPATHETIC IMAGE (I-123-MIBG) AFTER THE GREAT HANSHIN EARTHQUAKE OF 1995

The authors report the increased incidence of patients with deep negat ive T waves without Q wave after the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. Subjects underwent cardiac metaiodobenzyl guanidine (I-123-MIBG) imag ing, Tl-201 scintigraphy, and coronary angiography. Among 2,756 inpati ents of the preceding 5-year period, 33 (1.2%) showed the deep negativ e T waves, whereas 6 of 94 (6.4%; P < 0.001) showed it after the earth quake. Four of six patients had an episode of chest pain. Cardiac meta iodobenzyl guanidine imaging revealed the extent defects in all six pa tients despite a minimal change of Tl-201 image. In addition, cardiac metaiodobenzyl guanidine imaging washout rate was hastened not only in the defect area but also in the nondefect area, which suggested augme nted sympathetic activation. Natural disasters can affect the frequenc y of deep negative T waves, which relate abnormal cardiac sympathetic imaging.