Advanced atrioventricular block in a 39-year-old man with acute rheumatic fever.
This report describes the development of advanced (2:1 and 3:1) AV block in a 39-year-old man with acute rheumatic fever. AV block progressed from first-degree to type I second-degree and finally to advanced AV block. The latter lasted 5 days. AV block regressed in a stepwise fashion via sustained type I second-degree AV block and eventually first-degree AV block. The PR interval returned to normal several weeks after resolution of second-degree AV block. In view of the resurgence of acute rheumatic fever, the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever should now be considered in young adults or middle-aged patients presenting with second-degree or third-degree AV block of undetermined etiology.
Barold
S S
SS
Department of Medicine, Genesee Hospital, Rochester, New York, USA.
Sischy
D
D
Punzi
J
J
Kaplan
E L
EL
Chessin
L
L
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D018450:Disease Progression; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006327:Heart Block / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000150:complications*; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013616:Tachycardia, Sinus / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors