Myocardial infarction after exercise-induced electrocardiographic changes in a patient with variant angina pectoris

Abstract

The electrocardiographic response to stress testing varies considerably in patients with variant angina pectoris: no change in the S-T segment as well as S-T segment depression and elevation have been observed. This report describes a patient with a resting ST-T abnormality that reverted to normal appearance with exercise. However, the patient experienced severe chest pain shortly after discontinuing exercise testing, and an electrocardiogram showed evidence of acute anterolateral infarction. The possible implications of such electrocardiographic changes are discussed.