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Unusual electrocardiographic abnormality in leptospirosis: case reports
Angiology
|July 1, 1985
Summary
Severe icteric leptospirosis can cause unusual electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, specifically ST segment elevation. These ECG abnormalities often resolve with treatment, but can indicate a poor prognosis in some cases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infection with diverse clinical manifestations.
- Cardiac involvement in leptospirosis is uncommon and typically presents as arrhythmias or myocarditis.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) findings in severe leptospirosis are not well-characterized.
Observation:
- This report details four cases of severe icteric leptospirosis.
- Unusual ECG changes, characterized by marked ST segment elevation in leads V1 to V3, were observed.
- These specific ECG alterations represent a novel finding in this condition.
Findings:
- The observed ST segment elevation in leads V1-V3 is a previously unreported ECG finding in severe icteric leptospirosis.
- In three patients, these ECG changes normalized rapidly following the initiation of therapy and clinical recovery.
- One patient experienced rapid deterioration and mortality shortly after admission, highlighting the potential severity.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that specific ECG changes may serve as a marker for severe leptospirosis.
- Rapid normalization of these ECG changes could indicate a positive response to treatment.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms causing these ECG alterations and their prognostic significance.