ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC CHANGES IN SUBARACHNOID HAeMORRHAGE, MENINGITIS, AND INTRACRANIAL SPACE-OCCUPYING LESIONS

Abstract

Three groups of Bantu subjects, each comprising 20 cases, with subarachnoid hemorrhage, meningitis, and intracranial space-occupying lesions, were studied with references to their electrocardiograms. There were 2 control groups 164 normal Bantu subjects and 50 Bantu patients with lobar pneumonia. The latter served as controls for the group with meningitis, in order to exclude the possible electrocardiographic effects of infection. An increased Q-TC interval occurred only in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and was recorded in 45% of these. Depression of S-T segments was virtually confined to the same group. A high incidence of tall P and U waves and raised S-T segments was seen in the groups with subarachnoid hemorrhage and meningitis, whereas T-wave inversion was commonly seen with subarachnoid hemorrhage, meningitis, and intracranial space-occupying lesions. The incidence of electrocardiographic changes in the group with intracranial space-occupying lesions was not statistically significant when compared with normal controls. Causes for the electrocardiographic abnormalities are discussed. The number of electrocardiographic abnormalities increased with deterioration in the level of consciousness.