Different recovery process of st depression on postexercise electrocardiograms in women in standing and supine positions

Abstract

False-positive exercise test responses are frequently observed in women. To differentiate a false-positive from a true-positive test response, the effect of postures for recording a postexercise electrocardiogram to the recovery process of ST depression was investigated in 26 women with nonischemic ST depression and in 14 patients with typical angina pectoris. Exercise tests were performed twice, and the postexercise electrocardiogram was recorded while standing during the first test and in the supine position during the second test. In the false-positive test, maximal ST depression occurred immediately after exercise and showed a rapid re covery process In the early recovery phase. However, ST depression persisted without complete recovery, or increased in the late recovery phase as long as subjects were kept standing. In contrast, ST depression returned to the control level when subjects changed to the supine position after exercising. This discrepant pattern in the recovery process of ST depression by changing postures was not observed in the true-positive test results. Changing postures for recording postexercise electrocardiograms could be helpful in differentiating a falsepositive response from a true ischemic response.