The significance of U wave polarity in patients with a prior anterior myocardial infarction

The significance of the polarity of U waves in left precordial leads in patients with a prior anterior myocardial infarction was evaluated in relation to left ventricular function and wall motion by left ventriculography. Ninety-six such patients, with a mean age of 53 years, were divided into three groups according to the polarity ofU waves: positive U waves (group P), isoelectric or flat U waves (group F), and negative U waves (group N). The following parameters were analysed: (I) Selvester ECG score; (2) global ejection fraction (EF); (3) regional area change; (4) number of asynergic and akinetic segment al radii; (5) asynergic and akinetic areas. Fifteen patients served as controls. The Selvester ECG scores increased progressively and EF decreased successively with statistically significant differences between groups P, F, and N (P