ABSTRACT
In 82 patients with coronary artery disease, most of them having had transmural myocardial infarction, left ventricular function was studied with M-mode echocardiography. Furthermore 24-hour Holter-monitoring was done to determine the maximal degree of ventricular premature contractions (VPC's) according to the classification of Lown. The degree of VPC's was then plotted against echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular function. Confronting the subgroup of patients with Lown grade 0--II with those of grades III and IV, for all parameters significant differences of the mean values could be demonstrated. Parameter "distance E-point of the anterior mitral leaflet--left ventricular septal wall" shows 84% sensitivity; fractional shortening gives 88% specificity. Combination of all four parameters shows 90% specificity, which makes M-mode echocardiography a valuable diagnostic method in identifying those patients with coronary artery disease and malignant arrhythmias who have an increased risk of sudden death.
