[Comparison of dynamic electrography and stress test in the diagnosis of ventricular arrhythmias in the early phase of myocardial infarction].
UNLABELLED: Ventricular premature beats are probably important in the prognostic evaluation after acute myocardial infarction and may allow a better management of these patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity of two methods exercise testing - ET - and ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring - AM - detecting potentially dangerous ventricular arrhythmias and to evaluate their prognostic value. Sixty-four patients have been studied (53 males and 11 females); their mean age was 61 years. They underwent ET and AM before discharge (mean 13.9 days) and were followed for a period of 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: -- ET and AM are useful to detect ventricular arrhythmias; -- AM is the most sensitive method; -- there are no significant differences between the two methods in the diagnosis of major arrhythmias; -- the combined use of the two methods has a greater sensitivity; -- late mortality is not higher in the patients who have suffered from major arrhythmias in the acute phase of the disease.