Precordial ST segment elevation in acute ischemia caused by right coronary artery occlusion.

The purpose of this study is to determine why precordial ST elevation (V1 lead) occurs during acute occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA). Nineteen patients with vasospastic angina, in whom ergonovine administration into RCA provoked spasms, were divided into 2 groups by precordial ST change during spasms. Group I (n = 6) had precordial ST elevation; group II (n = 13) had no precordial ST elevation. A subgroup, IIA was comprised 6 patients in group II with spasms in the RCA proximal segment (segment number less than 2 of AHA coronary classification). None had left coronary dominancy. There was no difference in collateral flow during spasms. Location of spasms in group I was in the RCA proximal segment, and was significantly more proximal compared to group II. There was no difference in sigma ST in II, III, aVF between group I and II or IIA. Max ST elevation time by which duration of ischemia was estimated was significantly longer in group I than in group IIA. Three patients in group I displayed precordial ST depression before elevation, in all of whom in sigma ST in II, III, aVF was higher during precordial ST elevation than during depression. During acute occlusion in the RCA proximal segment, precordial ST elevation is caused by ischemia of the right ventricular anterior wall. Furthermore, precordial ST elevation can occur in a patient with RCA dominance, even if ischemic injury in the left ventricular infero-posterior wall increases progressively.