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We prospectively studied whether left atrial (LA) fibrosis is a determinant of atrial fibrillation (AF) in mitral stenosis in patients who underwent balloon mitral valvotomy. There were 2 groups: Group A (n = 16), with AF and Group B (n = 27), without AF. Fibrosis was assessed by MRI. Patients underwent cardioversion before MRI. There were 27 females and 16 males, aged 29 ± 6 years. The LA areas in Groups A and B were 54.3 ± 4.4 mm 2 and 39.4 ± 2.3 mm 2 ( p < 0.05) and the LA volume index was 46.2 ± 2.9 ml/m 2 vs 33 ± 3 ml/m 2 respectively ( p < 0.0001). The presence of LA scarring was not statistically different in the two groups.

In young adults, chronic atrioventricular (AV) block has scant systematic documentation in India. This prospective study included patients 18–40 years old, presenting with AV block without a reversible cause. There were 27 patients, aged 32 +/- 6.3 years, with 16 males. All patients had complete AV block with a narrow QRS escape rhythm (rate 40.5 ± 6.5 beats/min). Three patients were ANA positive and of these, 2 patients were anti ds DNA positive. The ESR and CRP levels were mildly elevated in 12 and 8 patients respectively. The rest of the tests were unremarkable. Despite performing multiple tests, the etiology remained idiopathic in most.

Introduction : Myocarditis remains an under-diagnosed entity among children. We evaluated the spectrum of electrocardiogram (ECG) changes and arrhythmias in children with myocarditis. Methods : A single-center prospective observational study was conducted over a period of 18 months at a public university hospital, which included all cases with myocarditis from the ages of 1 month to 12 years. Myocarditis was diagnosed according to standard criteria. Arrhythmias were detected by 12-lead ECG or by multiparameter monitors. Results : There were 63 children with myocarditis. Sinus tachycardia remained the most important ECG finding (61, 96.8%) followed by ST-T changes (30, 47.6%), low voltage QRS complexes (23, 36.5%), and premature complexes (11, 17.4%). Sustained arrhythmias were seen in 14/63 (22.2%) of the children (Group A), while the remaining 49 patients were designated as Group B. There were 11 (17.5%) cases with sustained tachyarrhythmias, comprising 5 with supraventricular tachycardia, 4 with ventricular tachycardia, and 2 with atrial flutter/fibrillation. Bradyarrhythmias were seen in 3 patients, including 2 children with atrioventricular block and 1 with severe sinus bradycardia. A longer hospital stay of 18.5 (4.75) days vs. 13 (4) days, P = 0.001), and more ST-T changes [12 (85.7%) vs. 18 (36.73%), P = 0.003] were seen in Group A. Multivariate regression analysis found only the presence of ST-T changes as predictors for arrhythmia. Conclusions : A variety of arrhythmias and other ECG changes were commonly seen in children with myocarditis. Sustained arrhythmias were seen in one-fifth of the patients, being associated with ST-T changes and a longer hospital stay.