What is abnormal T wave?

As a medical professional with expertise in cardiology, I can provide you with an explanation of what an abnormal T wave is in the context of an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). An abnormal T wave on an ECG is a deviation from the normal T wave appearance. The T wave represents the repolarization, or the recovery phase, of the ventricles after they have contracted to pump blood out of the heart. Normally, T waves are upright in leads where the QRS complex (which represents ventricular depolarization) is also upright, and they are inverted in leads where the QRS is inverted. Abnormal T waves can take various forms, including being inverted, flattened, or unusually peaked. These changes can be indicative of a number of conditions, including: 1. Ischemia: Insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle can cause T wave inversion. 2. Infarction: T waves may be abnormal following a heart attack. 3. Hyperkalemia: High levels of potassium in the blood can lead to peaked T waves. 4. Hypokalemia: Low levels of potassium can cause T waves to change shape. 5. Strains and Overload: Conditions like left ventricular hypertrophy or strain can alter T wave appearance. 6. Drugs and Toxins: Certain medications or exposure to toxins can affect the T wave. It's important to note that T wave changes are nonspecific and can be influenced by many factors, including age, sex, and even normal physiological variations. Therefore, the interpretation of T wave abnormalities must be done in the context of the patient's clinical history and other ECG findings.

The T wave is the most labile wave in the ECG. T wave changes including low-amplitude T waves and abnormally inverted T waves may be the result of many cardiac and non-cardiac conditions. The normal T wave is usually in the same direction as the QRS except in the right precordial leads (see V2 below).