COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS OF RHYTHM AND CONDUC TION DISORDERS IN PATIENTS WITH DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY AND CHRONIC MYOCARDITIS

Rhythm and conduction disturbances were compared for 20 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (group 1) versus 20 patients with chronic myoca rditis (group 2). The diagnosis was confirmed at coronaroventriculogra phy and morphological examination of left and right ventricular endomy ocardial biopsies, There were minor differences in the parameters stud ied 1, though supraventricular arrhythmia varied more in group 2. The frequency of ventricular arrhythmia appeared higher in group 2 only in circulatory insufficiency stage I-IIA. Quantitative differences in ve ntricular and supraventricular arrhythmias between the groups under mo derate circulatory insufficiency may result from different morphologic al changes in the myocardium.