AIM OF STUDY:

Cardiac involvement is a well established fact in extensive pulmonary tuberculosis. However, there are few references available in this regard to throw light on the early stages of tuberculosis.

Keeping this in mind the present study was undertaken in the Dept. of Medicine and TB & Resp. Diseases of V.S.S. Medical College, Burla to observe.

1. The Electrocardiographic changes at the time of diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.
2. The effect of ATT on ECG changes.
3. The possible cause of reversibility.

MATERIALS & METHODS :

Selection of patients included all sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis during 3 years period. Patients having pre-existing cardiac disease, under cardiac glycosides, severe anaemia, pregnancy were excluded from the present study. Patients having other respiratory disorder or any pleural complications were also not included.

RESULTS:

90 cases were taken up in the present study out of which sinus tachycardia (66.6*), sinus bradycardia (4.44%), low voltage & afcjnomial axis (13.3%), S.T. segment depression (11.11%). RVH (8.88%), T. inversion (8.8b%), SSS Syndrome (6.6%) cases were observed.
CONCLUSION:
The exact mechanism of ECG changes is unknown. However the possible explanation could be fever, toxaemia, Broody's effect, direct myocardial involvement, tymphadenopathy causing irritation of uonomic nerve fibres in the hilum and consequent altered sympathetic tone. Above conditions revert with ATT therapy and hence ECG abnormalities also disappear.
Possible explanation for persistence of ECG abnormalities is attributed to positional disturbances of heart and mediastinum secondary to pulmonary fibrosis in extensive diseases.