Rhythm and conduction analysis of patients with acute rheumatic fever.

[acute rheumatic fever]

Various rhythm and conduction abnormalities can develop in acute rheumatic fever . This study investigated rhythm and conduction abnormalities in children with acute rheumatic fever using a standard 12 -lead electrocardiogram and 24 -h rhythm Holter recordings . This multicenter retrospective study , performed between August 2011 and March 2012 , enrolled 73 consecutive children with acute rheumatic fever . Standard electrocardiography was used to measure PR and corrected QT intervals . Holter recordings were evaluated for all the patients , and 52 of the patients (71 .2 %) had carditis that was either isolated or together with other major criteria . A positive correlation was detected between carditis and the mean PR interval on standard electrocardiography , but this was not significant (p > 0 .05 ). Standard electrocardiography showed a significant positive correlation between PR and corrected QT intervals (p = 0 .03 ; r = 0 .55 ). Standard electrocardiography showed only three patients (4 .2 %) with premature contractions , whereas 24 -h electrocardiography showed 26 patients (35 .6 %) with premature contractions . Carditis was positively correlated with premature contractions (p < 0 .01 ; r = 0 .57 ). One patient with junctional rhythm and one patient with left bundle block were detected by standard electrocardiography . Whereas some patients with carditis exhibited no arrhythmic evidence on standard electrocardiograms , complete atrioventricular block , supraventricular tachycardia , and Mobitz type 1 block were observed on 24 -h Holter recordings . A positive correlation also was observed between the presence of premature contractions and serum levels of acute -phase reactants (p = 0 .03 ; r = 0 .62 ). These findings led to the conclusion that rhythm and conduction disorders in acute rheumatic fever are more common than previously thought .