RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cardiac abnormality in polymyositis.
JF Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
JO Ann Rheum Dis
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism
SP 575
OP 578
DO 10.1136/ard.36.6.575
VO 36
IS 6
A1 Sharratt, G P
A1 Danta, G
A1 Carson, P H
YR 1977
UL http://ard.bmj.com/content/36/6/575.abstract
AB Thirteen patients with polymyositis were investigated for the presence of cardiac disease by clinical examination, chest x-ray, electrocardiogram, and systolic time intervals. 5 patients had evidence of cardiac involvement. Compared with the other 8 patients, their polymyositis was more long-standing, more severe, and had remained active. Electrocardiogram usually showed arrhythmias and conduction disturbances, and 4 of the 5 patients had abnormal systolic time intervals indicating left ventricular dysfunction. Left ventricular involvement in polymyositis is more frequent than previously recognized and systolic time intervals are a simple, noninvasive method of detecting this.