EFFECT OF INTRAAORTIC BALLOON COUNTERPULSATION ON QT DISPERSION IN ACUTE ANTERIOR MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

The present prospective non-randomized study aimed to examine whether intraaortic balloon counter-pulsation (IABP) has a favorable effect on QT dispersion in patients with acute anterior MI. Patients with acute anterior MI who presented within 6 h after the symptom onset were ass igned to the IABP+streptokinase or streptokinase (STK) group. The IABP +STK group was consisted of 26 men and two women (mean age 52.9+/-10.2 ). The STK group was consisted of 19 men and two women (mean age 54.4/-10.8). In the IABP+STK group, mean QT interval dispersion significan tly shortened 6 h after treatment (50.9+/-15.6 ms before STK, and 36+/ -13.9 ms 6 h after STK; P=0.001) and did not significantly change 24 h after STK (35.6+/-11.2 ms). In the STE( group, mean QT interval dispe rsion did not vary significantly before and 6 h after STK (57.14+/-13. 2 ms before STK, and 56.07+/-13.3 ms 6 h after STK; P>0.05) but 24 h a fter STK it significantly shortened to 40.42+/-10.8 ms (P<0.001). Befo re STK, mean QT interval dispersions in the IABP+STK and STK groups we re 50.9+/-15.6 ms and 57.14+/-13.2 ms, respectively (P>0.05), 6 h afte r STK; mean QT interval dispersions were 36+/-13.9 ms and 56.07+/-13.3 ms, respectively (P=0.0001) and 24 h after STK, mean QT interval disp ersions were 35.6+/-11.2 ms and 40.42+/-10.8 ms, respectively (P>0.05) . In conclusion this study demonstrates that the adjunct of IABP to th rombolytic therapy, in the setting of acute anterior MI, significantly decreases QT interval dispersion at 6 h and this effect might be seco ndary to accelerated reperfusion and/or other beneficial effects of IA BP. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.