A SENSITIVE ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC SIGN IN MYOCARDITIS ASSOCIATED WITH VIRAL INFECTION
The electrocardiographic signs used to diagnose myocardial disease are nonspecific. Therefore, it would seem to be of significance, that, in nine myocarditis children with proved viral infections (6 under 1 year of age), there was a constant electrical abnormality. Eight of the nine had abnormally wide spatial QRS-T angles. Recordings were made before onset of therapy and were repeated frequently during both the acute and convalescent phases of the illnesses. It was found that the return to a normal angle coincided with the disappearance of cardiac disease. Other findings were variable. The regularity with which an abnormal spatial QRS-T angle was detected in our children with viral myocarditis made this finding a valuable and dependable tool for detection and evaluation of their disease.