WAVE AMPLITUDES IN NORMAL-POPULATIONS - VARIATION WITH ECG LEAD, SEX,AND AGE

Consideration of increased T wave amplitude (tall T waves), either alo ne or in association with other electrocardiographic (EGG) parameters, may be beneficial for the early detection of acute transmural ischemi a, and quantification of the increase might be used in quantifying the ischemic area. The primary purpose of this study was to quantify norm al T wave amplitude limits according to ECG lead, sex, and age. One th ousand nine hundred thirty-five subjects in two normal populations wer e analyzed, and the 98th percentile of the,positive T wave amplitude f or each BCG lead (including -aVR) was considered the upper limit of no rmal. Normal T wave amplitude was two times greater in the precordial than in the limb leads, and it was approximately 25% greater in men th an in women in all leads. There was approximately a 10% decrease in no rmal T wave amplitude between 18-39-and 40-59-year-old patients and a 15% decrease between 40-59- and 60-79-year-old patients. The upper lim it of normal T wave amplitudes identified in this study confirm those developed by Lepeschkin for use as means for each lead when age and se x are not considered. These limits might be incorporated into both nor mograms and automated ECG analysis systems to determine the presence o r absence of tall T waves in patients presenting with symptoms of acut e transmural ischemia.