An autopsy study of the accuracy of the electrocardiogram in the diagnosis of recurrent myocardial infarction

Electrocardiograms and autopsies of 21 patients dying of acute myocardial infarction with evidence of prior infarcts were studied. The diagnosis of acute recurrent myocardial infarction was correctly made in 17 of 21 patients (81 per cent). The 4 new infarcts not diagnosed were all superimposed on areas of pre-existing fibrosis. In spite of pre-existing electrocardiographic abnormalities, careful study of repeated ECG's will generally result in the diagnosis of recurrent myocardial infarction.