Abstract
BackgroundIdentification of coronary ischemia in patients presenting with chronic chest pain is difficult as resting ECG can be normal. Diagnosis of coronary ischemia requires evaluation during exercise or pharmacological stress. A noninvasive test to identify coronary ischemia at rest without the need for exercise is desirable. We studied the diagnostic accuracy of magnetocardiography (MCG) at rest to detect coronary ischemia in these patients.MethodsPatients with chronic chest pain and suspected coronary ischemia with a normal ECG were included. Patients underwent treadmill test (TMT) and were divided into TMT positive and TMT negative groups. MCG was recorded in a magnetically shielded room. Iso‐field contour maps generated at the T‐wave peak were compared between the groups. From the magnetic field map (MFM), the magnetic field angle at T‐wave peak was calculated and was also compared across the two groups.ResultsThere were a total of 29 patients, 12 with positive TMT and 17 with negative TMT. An abnormal magnetic field angle was more common in the TMT positive group (72% vs. 6%). Abnormal contour maps in the form of nondipole patterns or abnormal orientation were seen in 81.8% (9/11) patients in TMT positive group and 6.8% (1/17) patients in the TMT negative group (p < .001).ConclusionAbnormal magnetic field angle and abnormal magnetic field maps in MCG recorded at rest are able to identify the presence of coronary ischemia in patients with chronic chest pain and a normal resting ECG.
Highlights
Chest pain is a common presentation of coronary ischemia
As resting electrocardiogram (ECG) is often normal in patients presenting with chest pain, diagnosis is usually made by identifying ECG changes of ischemia during exercise stress
We found that magnetic field angle was significantly different be‐ tween the patients with coronary ischemia and normal patients
Summary
Chest pain is a common presentation of coronary ischemia. As resting electrocardiogram (ECG) is often normal in patients presenting with chest pain, diagnosis is usually made by identifying ECG changes of ischemia during exercise stress. Some patients are unable to exercise and phar‐ macological methods have limitations. In such patients, other in‐ vestigations like pharmacological stress with echocardiographic, MRI, or SPECT imaging is done, but these are cumbersome and resource intense. A noninvasive diagnostic test which is more sensitive than the ECG to identify coronary ischemia even at rest is desirable. This study was designed to assess MCG findings in patients with chest pain and a normal ECG and correlate these with the results of a treadmill test (TMT). We used treadmill test findings instead of cor‐ onary angiographic findings because it provides information on the functional significance of coronary artery stenosis and the presence of ischemia
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
