Effect of reperfusion by direct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty on ventricular late potentials in cases of total coronary occlusion at initial coronary arteriography.

The relationship between the time required for reperfusion and the incidence of late potentials was studied in 94 patients who survived a first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and who showed total occlusion of the infarct-related artery at an initial coronary arteriography. Sixty-three patients who successfully underwent direct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), and 31 who were treated conventionally (controls), underwent signal-averaged electrocardiography. Direct PTCA patients were classified into 5 groups according to the time required for reperfusion: < or = 4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, and > or = 10 h. The incidence of late potentials in these groups was 8%, 12%, 14%, 33%, and 43%, respectively, and 48% in the controls. Late potentials were recorded more frequently as the period until successful reperfusion increased: the incidence of late potentials was significantly lower in the < or = 4 and 4-6 h groups than in the controls (p < 0.005 and p < 0.05, respectively). Therefore, reperfusion achieved within 6 h reduced the incidence of late potentials in AMI patients and may be effective for preventing malignant ventricular arrhythmias.