Background. Myocardial infarction survivors may develop a higher risk of sudden cardiac death. The risk markers: left ventricular ejection fraction, ventricular premature beats, late potentials on averaged ECG, baroreflex sensitivity and heart rate variability are used as non-invasive stratification markers. Methods and Results. Occurrence of the autonomic and morphologic dysfunction risk markers in the myocardial infarction patients treated by thrombolysis and by primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is compared. We studied a cohort of 48 acute myocardial infarction survivors treated by primary PTCA and 96 patients treated by thrombolysis. Conclusions. Patients treated by primary PTCA had significantly lower occurrence of premature ventricular beats and pathological parameters of the heart rate variability.

        Key words: non-invasive stratification sudden cardiac death risk, myocardial infarction, heart rate variability.