ADDITIONAL DATA ON BODY-SURFACE POTENTIAL MAPS OF VENTRICULAR REPOLARIZATION IN NORMAL ADULTS

To date most published studies on normal basic data of the potential d istribution of cardiac activity have been restricted to ventricular de polarization. Only a few papers have dealt with ventricular repolariza tion in normal subjects. This is an attempt to establish the basic dat a of the body surface potential maps (BSPM) of ventricular repolarizat ion in normal adults. BSPM of ventricular repolarization utilizing 87 electrodes through the heart potential map system designed by Toyama e t al. were studied in 50 normal Chinese male adults. The following inf ormation on BSPMs was obtained: (1) In the initial phase of ventricula r repolarization, the potential maximum was located on the precordial area and the potential minimum appeared on the right-superior portion of the back; (2) The movement of potentials was counterclockwise and s table during the later portion of the T loop; (3) The magnitudes of th e potentials changed in a spindle pattern with the drifting of ventric ular repolarization. They first increased and then decreased with the largest value being around the peak period of the T wave; (4) The abso lute value was greater in the potential maximum than the potential min imum throughout ventricular repolarization. There was no ''reversal'' potential distribution pattern. This parameter may be of importance cl inically; (5) There were usually multiple potential maxima and multipl e potential minima during the ST segment and early phase of the T wave ; (6) The largest potential maximum and potential minimum were 0.93 +/ - 0.28 mV and 0.35 +/- 0.19 mV, respectively. The potential maximum an d potential minimum at the peak T wave were 0.91 +/- 0.23 mV and 0.35 +/- 0.17 mV, respectively. Obviously, this study offers valuable basic data on the BSPM in normal adults and will be helpful to our understa nding of the BSPM in various heart diseases.