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. 2007 Aug;30(8):403-7.
doi: 10.1002/clc.20111.

Normalization of abnormal T-waves during stress testing does not identify patients with reversible perfusion defects

Henry S Loeb  1 , Nicholas C Friedman
Affiliations

Normalization of abnormal T-waves during stress testing does not identify patients with reversible perfusion defects

Henry S Loeb et al. Clin Cardiol. 2007 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To determine if T-wave normalization during exercise or dobutamine stress testing identified patients with myocardial ischemia as indicated by reversible perfusion defects.

Methods: Exercise or dobutamine stress tests with perfusion scintigraphy were performed in 1,173 patients with abnormal T-waves on their baseline electrocardiograms. The results of perfusion scintigraphy were compared in patients with and without stress-induced T-wave normalization.

Results: Only 33 of 270 patients with reversible perfusion defects (12.2%) had T-wave normalization during stress while 76.4% of 140 patients who had T-wave normalization during stress did not have a reversible perfusion defect. Results were similar for patients who did or did not reach 85% of their maximal predicted heart rate, for patients with and without Q-wave infarction on the baseline EKG and for patients who did or did not have ischemic ST-segment depression during stress.

Conclusions: T-wave normalization during stress testing has low sensitivity and poor positive predictive value for stress-induced reversible myocardial ischemia.

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