Changes in the asynchronous contraction of the left ventricle in primary rheumocarditis in children.

An attempt has been made at studying in greater detail the changes in the AC of the left ventricle in primary rheumocarditis. The changes, evaluated with the help of an ACG, have been differentiated from such in the EMI and those in IVC. The studies werecarried out on 220 children, aged 3-14, divided into 2 groups: 100 healthy controls and 120 with primary rheumocarditis. An analysis of the results shows that the rheumatic process in the myocardium modifies the normal transformation of electrical events into mechanical ones, and prolongs the AC phase. The latter is due to the increase of EMI duration. IVC is practically unchanged. The prolonged duration of EMI may be connected with a certain compensatory reaction.