Abstract
1. 1. The degree (frequency index) of sinus arrhythmia was investigated in children suffering an initial attack of rheumatic fever (with and without carditis), in children with a recurrent attack, and in children with normal hearts who served as controls. 2. 2. At slow heart rates (less than 100 per minute) there was no difference between the control, normal-heart, and carditis groups at the time of admission, but a highly significant decrease was observed in the recurrence group. 3. 3. At fast heart rates (100 per minute and more) both the normal-heart and carditis groups on admission showed a significant decrease in sinus arrhythmia as compared with the control group, and the recurrence group showed a significant decrease as compared with the normal-heart and carditis groups. 4. 4. At the time of discharge, the normal-heart and carditis groups showed similar values; the values for the former had decreased more than had those for the latter, as compared with the admission values. 5. 5. It is suggested that the fall in sinus arrhythmia observed between admission and discharge and the low-frequency index of sinus arrhythmia in the recurrence group may be due to permanent damage to the sinus node by the rheumatic process.
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