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The electrocardiogram in isolated right ventricular hypertrophy due to chronic respiratory disease


B. van Lingen
R. Palmhert

Abstract

The electrocardiograms of 34 cases with isolated right ventricular hypertrophy diagnosed at autopsy have been analysed. Only subjects having chronic respiratory diseases of long duration were considered. These results have been compared with normal standards for the electrocardiogram which have advantages over those previously published. Thirty-three deflections, or combinations of deflections, of the electrocardiogram were found to characterise the isolated right ventricular hypertrophy group. Although combinations of abnormal electrocardiographic deflections could be found in some of the normal group, they did not conform to those found in the isolated right ventricular hypertrophy group in the vast majority of the cases. As such, 91% of the electrocardiograms of isolated right ventricular hypertrophy were distinctive. These results have been compared with previous reports dealing with the electrocardiographic diagnosis of right ventricular hypertrophy. Attempts at gauging the degree of right ventricular hypertrophy from the electrocardiogram have been made.

S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 1480 (1974).

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eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574