In 585 patients with a first myocardial infarction the enzymatically estimated infarct size was related to the clinical course during a 2-year follow-up. Infarct size was estimated from maximum heat-stable lactate dehydrogenase activity. A higher maximum serum activity was associated with a higher mortality rate, more treatment with diuretics, digitalis and antiarrhythmics and a lower frequency of return to work. Patients with smaller infarcts according to maximum serum activity, however, had a higher incidence of angina pectoris and a higher reinfarction rate. We conclude that although there is a strong association between serum enzyme activity and mortality during a 2-year follow-up, the relation with morbidity appears to be more complex.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.