CARDIAC-ARRHYTHMIAS AS PRESENTING SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH LIMB-GIRDLE MUSCULAR-DYSTROPHY

Clinically manifest muscular dystrophy is often accompanied by functio nal and anatomic derangements in the myocardium which often have progn ostic significance. We describe two young patients who had unrecognize d limb-girdle muscular dystrophy who presented with cardiac arrhythmia . One developed dilated cardiomyopathy complicated by ventricular tach yarrhythmia. The other patient had atrial paralysis requiring permanen t pacing. It is important to consider the possibility of underlying mu scular dystrophy in patients who present with cardiac arrhythmia witho ut an obvious cause. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.