Electrocardiograms taken from 149 cases of acute carbon monoxide poisoning were analyzed and comparison of the results were made according to the mental status on admission, serum GOT, and LDH levels. The major electrocardiographic abnormalities were ST, T changes and Q-T internal prolongation, the overall incidence being 38.3% and 37.0%, respectively. Among ST, T changes, low to inverted T waves were most frequent followed by abnormally tall T waves, depression and elevation of ST segments in decreasing order of frequency.
The incidence of these abnormalities, except ST segment depression, was higher in comatose cases than in stuporous. Moreover, seven cases whose electrocardiograms were consistent with myocardial infarction-six subendocardial and one posterolateral were in comatose state on admission. Although the incidence of the Q-T interval prolongation was not related to serum GOT and LDH levels, ST, T changes were noted more frequently in those with elevation of these enzymes. In four cases whose electrocardiograms revealed myocardial infarction patterns and on whom these enzymes studies were done, serum LDH levels were elevated in all cases and GOT activities in three.
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