Effect of thrombolytic therapy on the predictive value of signal-averaged electrocardiography after acute myocardial infarction.

Abstract Standard time domain variables from signal-averaged electrocardiography were examined in a population of 331 survivors of acute myocardial infarction. Of these subjects, 130 received early ( 3 times lower). Retrospectively adjusted receiver-operator characteristics showed that for a sensitivity of 30%, the maximum achievable positive predictive accuracy of signal-averaged electrocardiography for arrhythmic events was 100% in the group without thrombolysis, but only 27% in those with thrombolysis. It is concluded that standard signal-averaged electrocardiography after acute myocardial infarction is less informative in patients who receive thrombolytic treatment.