Myotonic heart disease: a clinical follow-up
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 6, 2026

Noninvasive Assessment of Cardiac Abnormalities in Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis by Magnetic Resonance Microscopy Imaging in the Mouse
Published on: June 20, 2014
R J Hawley1, M R Milner, J S Gottdiener
1Neurology Service, VA Medical Center, Washington, DC 20422.
Abstract:
We followed 37 patients with myotonic dystrophy for a mean of 6 years. Two developed atrial flutter or fibrillation, 6 developed a new bundle branch block, 1 developed complete heart block requiring a pacemaker, and another with progressive 1st-degree heart block and a widening QRS interval had a sudden death. Most patients had predictable, gradually progressive disease of their cardiac conduction system. We recommend that patients with progressive atrioventricular block or widening QRS interval due to myotonic heart disease have yearly ECGs and be questioned about syncope or presyncope to determine the need for a cardiac pacemaker.
Related Concept Videos
Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
Myocarditis IV: Nursing Management
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

