Clinical application of MCG in ischemic heart disease

Abstract

Abstract Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is still the leading cause of death in adults worldwide. MCG has the potential to analyze spatial and temporal aspects of cardiac electrogenesis in the context of IHD. This work gives an overview of recent developments in this field. In 3 studies, the group around Steinberg, Park and Tolstrup evaluated 49 264 and 127 IHD patients, respectively. Data analysis was performed using specific spatio-temporal characteristics of the magnetic field. In general, compared to healthy subjects, IHD patients showed rapid vector changes. In > 400 patients Hailer and coworkers could identify those with IHD with a sensitivity of 73%. Hanninen et al. used MCG for the detection of previous myocardial infarction (MI), in particular Q wave MI on the basis of several time integrals and field orientation. Van Leeuwen and coworkers compared different methods of determination of magnetic field orientation in order to find the optimal data analysis method for a standardized procedure. At rest, centers-of-gravity and maximum gradient calculation were superior to the maximum–minimum approach in the discrimination between healthy subjects and IHD patients. In conclusion research in MCG focuses at present on a standardization of data analysis in greater population sizes and more acute cardiac disease states.