Cardiac Findings in 73 Patients With Muscular Dystrophy

Abstract

The frequency of cardiac and electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with the various forms of muscular dystrophy is difficult to determine from reviewing the literature. Many reports have consisted of single case studies ^1,2 or have dealt with relatively small numbers of patients.^3,4 Comparisons between different studies have been hampered by a lack of uniformity in classifying the various forms of muscular dystrophy and because the diagnostic criteria used in interpreting the electrocardiograms are not stated. The purpose of this report is to present the cardiac findings, including electrocardiographic data, in 73 patients with muscular dystrophy. Material and Methods A total of 118 patients with definite evidence of muscular dystrophy were seen on one or more occasions at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center from 1955 through 1960. The majority of these patients were examined by more than one of us. The patients were divided into four groups according to