Electrocardiographic changes in hypertension treated by methonium compounds

Abstract

Serial electrocardiograms recorded before and after treatment with the methonium compounds in seventy-five patients suffering from arterial hypertension have been examined. Electrocardiographic appearances consisting of S-T and T-wave changes and increased voltage in leads influenced mainly by the left ventricle improved progressively during the time that treatment was maintained, all abnormal electrocardiograms improving after treatment for a year or more. Electrocardiograms from fifty-four patients with S-T or T-wave abnormalities showed a return to normal in twenty-six patients and a return toward normality in twenty. Electrocardiograms from fifty patients with abnormally high QRS voltage showed a return to normal in thirty-two and a return in the direction of normal in six. Improvements in the electrocardiogram appeared to be directly related to the degree of control of blood pressure achieved.