Relation between fragmented QRS and collateral circulation in patients with chronic total occlusion without prior myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE: It has been shown that the fragmented QRS (fQRS) on electrocardiogram (ECG) signifies regional myocardial scar in patients with non-Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI). We hypothesized that presence of fQRS on ECG may be related with poorly-grown collateral coronary circulation (CCC) in patients with chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO) without prior MI. METHODS: This retrospective observational study is included 56 patients (mean age 61.73±7.96 years; 67.9% men) with CTO in one of the major coronary arteries. Collateral circulation was graded according to Rentrop's classification. The fQRS was defined as the presence of an additional R wave or notching of R or S wave or the presence of fragmentation in two contiguous ECG leads corresponding to a major coronary artery territory. Patients with pathological Q-wave or history of MI, typical bundle brunch blocks (BBB) and incomplete right BBB were excluded from study. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test, Student's t-test and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Fifteen patients had Rentrop grade 1, 15 patients had grade 2 and 26 patients had grade 3 CCC. Five (19%) of the patients who have grade 3 CCC, seven (47%) of the patients who had grade 2 CCC, ten (67%) of the patients who had grade 1 CCC had fQRS (p=0.002). Logistic regression analysis showed high predictive value of the presence of fQRS for Rentrop 1 CCC (OR=8.4, 95% CI 1.97-35.7; p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Results of our study may implicate the presence of fQRS on electrocardiogram as a predictor of a poorly grown CCC in patients with chronic total occlusion without prior MI.