title: Cardiac abnormality in polymyositis.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009220:Myositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology