Author/Authors :
Pourmoghaddas، Ali نويسنده Associated Professor of Cardiology , , Shemirani، Hasan نويسنده Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Isfahan , , Garakyaraghi، Mohammad نويسنده Assistant Professor, Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, , Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran ,
Abstract :
BACKGROUND: One of the causes of mortality in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is
ventricular tachycardia. Abnormal serum Potassium (K) level is one of the probable causes of
ventricular tachycardia in patients with AMI. This study carried out to determine the
relationship between serum potassium level and frequency of ventricular tachycardia in early
stages of AMI.
METHODS: Ina cross-sectional study on 162 patients with AMI in the coronary care unit (CCU)
of Nour Hospital (Isfahan, Iran), the patientsʹ serum potassium level was classified into three
groups: 1) K < 3.8 mEq/l, 2) 3.8?K < 4.5 mEq/l and 3) K?4.5 mEq/l. The incidence of ventricular
tachycardia in the first 24 hours after AMI was determined in each group by chi-square
statistical method.
RESULTS: The frequency of ventricular tachycardia in the first 24 hours after AMI in K < 3.8
mEq/l, 3.8?K < 4.5 mEq/l and K?4.5 mEq/l groups were 19.0%, 9.6% and 9.9% respectively. The
high frequency of this arrhythmia in the first group as compared with the second and the third
group was statistically significant.
CONCLUSION: Hypokalemia increased the probability of ventricular tachycardia in patients with
AMI. Thus, the follow up and treatment of hypokalemia in these patients is of special importance.
