Evaluation of a QRS scoring system for estimating myocardial infarct size. III. Correlation with quantitative anatomic findings for inferior infarcts.

This study evaluated by quantitative autopsy correlation a previously developed scoring system for estimating the size of myocardial infarcts based on the QRS complex of the electrocardiogram. This system was tested using electrocardiograms from patients with infarcts shown by autopsy to predominate in the inferior third of the left ventricle. The study was limited to patients whose electrocardiogram did not indicate left or right ventricular hypertrophy, left or right bundle branch block, or left anterior or posterior fascicular block. Thirty-one patients from 6 medical centers met these criteria. In the electrocardiogram of 28 of the 31 patients (90%), lead a VF exhibited a Q wave of at least 30 ms. The correlation coefficient between the total QRS score and the percent infarction of the left ventricle was 0.74. In patients without confounding factors in the electrocardiogram and with single infarcts, the electrocardiogram provides a marker for infarcts in the inferior third of the left ventricle and a quantitative QRS scoring system provides an estimate of infarct size.