Diffuse ST segment depression from hypothermia

Abstract

Hypothermia is known to cause specific electrocardiographic (EKG) changes such as Osborne waves and bradycardia. We report diffuse ST segment depression, an atypical EKG change, in a patient with a core temperature of 29.4°C (85°F). This patient had no previous cardiovascular pathology, and his EKG changes resolved gradually with aggressive warming. We also discuss the pathophysiology and clinical significance of ST depression in the general population and the typical EKG changes in hypothermia patients.

Case report

A 46-year-old African American male was brought to the Emergency Department (ED) by helicopter at 3:00 a.m. on a cold January morning. It was reported that the patient had an altered level of consciousness and was found lying in the middle of a street in wet clothes. He was also noted to have a strong smell of alcohol. The patient could open his eyes spontaneously, move all extremities and follow commands. However, he had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13 initially because he was disoriented and using inappropriate words.

On physical examination, he appeared to be a well-developed, well-nourished African-American male. He was somnolent, but was easily arousable. His vital signs included a heart rate of 70 bpm (sinus rhythm), a respiratory rate of 12/min, a blood pressure of 115/71 mmHg, and a pulse oximetry of 96% on 2 l of oxygen via nasal cannula. His skin was wet and cold to the touch. Following removal of his wet clothes, his core temperature was found to be 29.4°C (85°F) via a rectal probe. This patient was found to have swelling on his left maxilla with a superficial laceration and no active bleeding. There were no other external signs of trauma. The patient had no focal neurological deficits. Otherwise, his physical examination was unremarkable.

The patient was aggressively rewarmed. Warm blankets including a warm air blanket (Bair Hugger) were applied to the patient. In addition, warm normal saline (NS) was administered intravenously, and a Foley catheter was placed for warm NS irrigation. A rectal temperature probe was placed for continuous core temperature monitoring.

On presentation, an EKG was obtained (see Fig. 1) showing significant ST segment depression in leads II, III, aVF and V3-6. Laboratory tests were obtained, revealing a high blood alcohol level, a mild elevation of WBC (11.42 K/μl), high anion gap (19 mmol/l), low bicarbonate (14 mmol/l), and mildly elevated CPK (3,010 U/l). Otherwise, laboratory results were unremarkable, including two normal troponin I values (first 0.03 ng/ml and 0.04 ng/ml 2 h after) and negative urine drug screen test. The patient had computed tomography of his head, which was negative for fracture or intracranial abnormalities.

Fig. 1

Diffuse significant ST segment depression in leads II, III, aVF and V3-6 in a patient with core body temperature of 85°F

After aggressive external warming, the patient’s core temperature reached 33.9°C (93°F) and an EKG was repeated (Fig. 2). This EKG demonstrated a normal sinus rhythm with no ST depression. The patient was stabilized in the ED and admitted to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

Fig. 2

Sinus tachycardia with no ST segment depression in the same patient with core body temperature of 93°F after 2 h of external warming

Discussion

Hypothermia affects almost all organ systems, especially the cardiovascular with different EKG changes. Sinus bradycardia, junctional bradycardia, atrial fibrillation, QT prolongation, PR prolongation, widening of the QRS complex and Osborne waves (J waves) are the most common EKG changes. Most EKG changes develop when moderate or severe hypothermia occurs. Moderate hypothermia is usually considered when core body temperature drops to 32°C (90°F), and severe hypothermia is defined as body core temperature below 28°C (82°F). Sinus or junctional bradycardia can occur with mild hypothermia. However, it develops most commonly in moderate or severe hypothermia when pacemaker cells decrease depolarization spontaneously. Heart rate can drop over 40% from its baseline when body temperature becomes moderately hypothermic and drop over 55% if it reaches severe hypothermia in animal study [1]. Similar findings were also reported in human beings as well [2].

Pathophysiologically, hypothermia depresses the calcium-dependent ATPase (Ca-ATPase) activity by reducing the number of active calcium pump units [3]. The depression of calcium uptake activity delays the inward calcium current, thus prolonging the action potential duration resulting in myocardial conduction delay. The widening QRS complex is developed thereafter. Conduction delay can also cause PR prolongation and high-degree A-V blockage in EKG. Increased calcium concentration extracellularly and decreased calcium concentration intracellularly among myocardial cells impairs the cardiac contractility and subsequently reduces the cardiac output [4]. The Na+/H+ exchange function was also affected by hypothermia, with delayed activation of the inward sodium current and more H+ retained intracellularly [5, 6]. The increasing acidosis in the cytosol further affects the enzyme activity, which forms a vicious cycle in the metabolism of myocytes during hypothermia [7].

The mechanisms of atrial fibrillation (A-fib) triggered by hypothermia are still not fully understood and probably multifactorial. Under the circumstance of hypothermia, the sympathetic nervous system is activated with the release of catecholamine. Increased sympathetic innervations trigger the initiation of atrial ectopic activity, which can further progress into A-fib. In addition, acidosis in hypothermia also lowers the threshold of A-fib among these atrial myocytes. A-fib occurs more often when core body temperature drops below 32°C (90°F). If severe hypothermia develops, ventricular fibrillation or asystole can occur.

The QT interval is measured from the time when ventricular myocytes depolarize to the time when they repolarize. Pathophysiologically, hypothermia depresses the pacemaker cells automaticity, affecting the transmembrane ion channel activity, resulting in lower calcium, higher potassium and higher hydrogen levels intracellularly. A shift of these ions from extracellular to intracellular enables hypokalemia to occur more easily around myocytes, which further suppresses the resting membrane potential and induces the QT prolongation [8]. It is reported that over 70% of hypothermia patients develop QT prolongation [9]. A good linear correlation between the core temperature and the duration of QT interval is seen in animal studies; however, it shows significant variability in human beings [10, 11].

Osborne waves are detected in 80% of patients with a core body temperature below 30°C (86°F), usually occurring in the precordial leads [12, 13]. The appearance of Osborn waves on EKG was considered to be due to the abnormalities during early ventricular repolarization, and this may be related to the altered transmural action potential [14]. However, the mechanisms are still not fully understood. Osborne waves can be seen in subarachnoid hemorrhage, myocardial ischemia or sepsis patients, and therefore may not be pathognomonic for hypothermia [15–18].

ST segment elevation can be seen in hypothermia patients often with the appearance of Osborne waves because it is partially buried in the R wave with down-sloping ST elevation. If it occurs in leads V1 and V2, ST elevation with Osborn waves can resemble the Brugada syndrome [19, 20]. One of the mechanisms of the ST change can be attributed to early repolarization and acidosis. Whether the early repolarization is considered benign or malignant also depends on the lead location. If the early repolarization pattern displays only in the lateral precordial leads, it is usually benign. However, if it displays in the inferior, lateral and right precordial leads, this can often develop into malignant arrhythmias and ventricular fibrillation [21].

ST depression occurs significantly less when compared with ST elevation in hypothermia patients. In one prospective, multicenter observational study, ST depression was reported in 17.8% (13/73) of patients with hypothermia. Unfortunately, this study does not report the amplitude of ST depression, the number of leads involved and the relationship to the severity of hypothermia [22]. One case report was published and reported ST depression only from lead V3 to V6 with the appearance of an Osborn wave occurring in an 80-year-old woman with a core body temperature of less than 30°C (86°F), and ST depression was recovered after rewarming [23]. However, until now, the mechanism(s) of ST depression in hypothermia is still uncertain. ST segment depression is not always pathologic. It can be seen in normal patients including those with AV reciprocating tachycardia, atrial repolarization and hyperventilation, and can be caused by artifacts [24–26]. In patients at high risk of coronary artery disease, ST segment depression often indicates myocardial ischemia. Subendocardial ischemia can manifest as horizontal or down-sloping ST segment depression [27, 28]. Other causes of ST depression include a digoxin effect, hypokalemia, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, hypertension, CNS diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, mitral valve prolapse and intraventricular conduction abnormalities [29–36].

Here we report a previously healthy young male who developed diffuse ST depression when his core body temperature dropped to 29.4°C (85°F). This patient had significant ST segment depression of more than 1 mm (0.1 mV) at the J point on leads II, III, aVF and V3-6 (Fig. 1) with no Osborne waves. The ST segment depression presented as a downward slope towards the end of the ST segment at its junction with the T wave. This patient had no past medical history and was not on any medications that could have accounted for these EKG changes. Coronary artery disease is a very unlikely cause of this patient’s EKG changes, given his age and lack of cardiovascular risk factors. Furthermore, during his ED stay, his cardiac enzymes were negative, and his ST segment changes resolved with rewarming. His repeat EKG after body temperature reached 33.9°C (93°F) and showed sinus tachycardia with no ST depression in all 12 leads (Fig. 2). This patient was observed in the hospital overnight and discharged the next day with no observed short-term complications.

In conclusion, in this case report, ST depression can be the only EKG change in hypothermia that can display globally in the inferior and lateral precordial leads. Fortunately, this EKG change in hypothermia seems to be associated with a good outcome after rewarming.