Changes in transthoracic electrical impedance during submaximal treadmill exercise in patients with ischemic heart disease--A preliminary report.

Twenty normal subjects and 32 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) were subjected to submaximal treadmill exercise. The mean transthoracic electrical impedance (TEI) was measured with a tetrapolar lead system and the changes were correlated to the extent of ST depression observed on an on-line digital computer. Six subjects of pre-excitation syndrome with "false" ST depression were also studied. The normal subjects did not show a significant change of TEI during exercise. The patients with IHD showed a steady and significant decrease in TEI, correlating with the extent of ST depression. Recovery was slow after the cessation of exercise. The subjects with false ST changes showed no decrease of TEI. The changes were more profound in subjects who developed anginal pain during the test. These findings are attributed to an increase in the thoracic blood volume and pulmonary extravascular water due to transient left ventricular dysfunction in angina.