Objective: Factors influencing the incidence of right ventricular infarction among patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction have not yet been fully established. Chronic obstructive airways disease and right ventricular hypertrophy were suggested as possible predisposing factors but no definite evidence was shown. This study analyses the frequency of chronic obstructive airway disease and of Doppler assessed pulmonary hypertension among patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction with or without right ventricular infarction.
Design and patients: Sixty consecutive patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction were prospectively enrolled into the study.
Measurements: Standard 12-lead ECG with right precordial leads (V3-6R) were recorded on admission to the Coronary Care Unit and on days 2 and 3. Doppler echocardiography was performed within 48 h after the onset of myocardial infarction and repeated 6 weeks later together with a pulmonary function test. Routine biochemical and clinical data were collected.
Results: Right ventricular infarction occurred in 35% of patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction. No differences in respiratory indices of chronic obstructive airways disease or in Doppler echocardiography parameters of pulmonary hypertension were revealed among patients with and without right ventricular infarction. Peak total creatine kinase level and creatine kinase myocardial isoenzyme levels were higher in patients with right ventricular infarction than in those without (2925 +/- 1321 vs. 1682 +/- 1216 U/l; P < 0.001 and 207 +/- 108 vs. 127 +/- 102 U/l; P < 0.05, respectively).
Conclusions: In the course of acute inferior myocardial infarction, the frequencies of chronic obstructive airways disease and/or pulmonary hypertension were not higher among patients with right ventricular infarction than among those without right ventricular infarction. Thus, history of chronic obstructive airways disease and/or pulmonary hypertension do not necessitate specific precautions in respect of right ventricular infarction.