title: Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic manifestations of cardiac involvement in leptospirosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac involvement is known to occur in leptospirosis, however, data on the significance of electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings is very limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic changes were studied in serologically confirmed patients with leptospirosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 22 patients, 45% (10) had cardiac symptoms; 59% (13) had abnormalities on the ECG; 90% (9/10) of patients with cardiac symptoms had at least one electrocardiographic abnormality. Echocardiographic abnormalities were seen in 41% (9). Clinical and echocardiographic evidence of myocarditis was seen in two patients, but left ventricular function was preserved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Echocardiographic changes may be useful in identifying patients with myocarditis in leptospirosis, especially in symptomatic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, 25 Kynsey Road, Colombo 08, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Tharanga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fernando
authors.forename: Chaturaka
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodrigo
authors.forename: Lasitha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Samarakoon
authors.forename: Mitrakrishnan Rayno
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Navinan
authors.forename: Chaturika
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dandeniya
authors.forename: Godwin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Constantine
authors.forename: Senaka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajapakse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Leptospirosis