Transient myocardial ischemia and cardiac pain. Importance of duration of ischemia, heart rate behaviour and circadian distribution
Baroni, M.; Emdin, M.; Michelassi, C.; Biagini, A.; Mazzei, M.G.; Carpeggiani, C.; Testa, R.; Maffei, S.; L'Abbate, A.
Functional Neurology 4(1): 27-30
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0393-5264 PMID: 2737492 Document Number: 333003
In 40 drug-free patients 2052 episodes of transient myocardial ischemia (28% painful) were recorded by 24-h ambulatory ECG. Pain was more frequently associated with longer duration of ischemia and greater ST segment shift and with the presence of ventricular arrhythmias within the ischemic episode. Heart rate always showed a growing trend during the ischemic episode. Circadian distribution of painless ischemic episodes showed a maximum peak at 2 a.m. while the most painful attacks occurred early in the morning (6 a.m.).