Sidney R. Arbeit

Cardiac involvement in progressive muscular dystrophy

Fifteen patients with muscular dystrophy, none of whom had any clinical evidence of cardiac disease, were further examined by electro- and ballistocardiography. Excluding 1 patient with hypertension, 6 of the remaining 14 (45 per cent) had abnormal electrocardiograms, while 12 of the 14 (86 per cent) had abnormal ballistocardiograms. Since abnormal cardiac metabolism is found in all cases of muscular dystrophy, it can be concluded that the ballistocardiogram is more sensitive to the presence of myocardial involvement than is any other modality. The ballistocardiographic changes reported here are nonspecific, as they are in all other disease states where the myocardium is directly involved. It is believed that the deterioration of form and amplitude reflects the decreased functional efficiency of the heart rather than a specific pathological lesion.Abstract Fifteen patients with muscular dystrophy, none of whom had any clinical evidence of cardiac disease, were further examined by electro- and ballistocardiography. Excluding 1 patient with hypertension, 6 of the remaining 14 (45 per cent) had abnormal electrocardiograms, while 12 of the 14 (86 per cent) had abnormal ballistocardiograms. Since abnormal cardiac metabolism is found in all cases of muscular dystrophy, it can be concluded that the ballistocardiogram is more sensitive to the presence of myocardial involvement than is any other modality. The ballistocardiographic changes reported here are nonspecific, as they are in all other disease states where the myocardium is directly involved. It is believed that the deterioration of form and amplitude reflects the decreased functional efficiency of the heart rather than a specific pathological lesion.

Transitory Abnormal Q Waves During Bouts of Tachycardia

Abstract This is a report of a patient who had a healed myocardial infarct with a residual abnormal Q wave localized to one precordial lead. On four occasions during bouts of tachycardia broad areas of Q waves developed over the entire anterior and diaphragmatic regions of the heart associated with widening of the QRS complexes and elevation of the S-T segments and inversion of the T waves in many leads. With the cessation of the tachycardia the electrocardiogram reverted to the control pattern. The possible mechanism for these changes are (1) transient reversible ischemia of the myocardium resulting temporarily in the development of electrical inertness of the myocardium surrounding an old area of myocardial infarction; (2) aberrant conduction during tachycardia resulting in delay of depolarization of the myocardium surrounding the area of an old infarct and leading to broad areas of abnormal Q waves over the entire anterior and diaphragmatic portions of the heart; and (3) a combination of these mechanisms.

The Electrocardiographic Recognition of Pacemaker Function and Failure

Abstract The recognition of proper and improper function of implanted electronic pacemakers utilized for cardiac stimulation may be aided by a knowledge of how they function and their effect on the...

Ballistocardiographic studies on Olympic athletes.

E W PRESENT ballistocardiographic evidence pertaining to three physiologic problems of exercise. First, evidence to the effect that a distinct increase of cardiac force accompanies the characteristic diminution in the size of the heart during muscular activity; second, abnormal tracings from three Olympic athletes which raise the question whether the widely held view is justified that normality of cardiac function is invariably a prerequisite for the attainment of outstanding physical efficiency; third, ballistocardiograms which elucidate conclusions drawn by us earlier from other clinical and pathologic data, viz., that first class athletic performances are not irreconcilable with the presence of cardiac disease.’

The artificially paced human heart

Abstract In 10 patients with complete heart block and an artificial ventricular pacemaker, there was a significant improvement in the form and amplitude of the ballistocardiographic complex when the P-R interval was 0.10 to 0.20 sec. Maximal ballistocardiographic improvement was associated with maximal increase in the brachial arterial systolic and pulse pressures. These findings suggest an improved efficiency of ventricular contraction in complete heart block when there is a normal sequence of atrioventricular activity. The hemodynamic consequences of the changing atrial systole-ventricular systole interval in complete heart block and their effect upon the ballistocardiogram are discussed.