Abstract
A study is reported which was performed in 288 patients after an initial acute myocardial infarction to assess the relationship between enzymatic estimates and infarct size, an important prognostic indicator, and the temporal sequence of Q wave appearance and disappearance. Infarct size was larger for patients who developed Q waves prior to hospital admission, compared to those who developed them during hospitalization, or who never developed Q waves. Similarly, the enzymatic estimates of infarct size were smaller for patients whose Q waves resolved during the 3-6 months of follow-up compared to patients whose Q waves were persistent. Thus, these routinely obtained data may prove to be a valuable prognostic indicator.