THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM IN CHRONIC THIAMINE DEFICIENCY IN RATS

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Abstract
A symptom complex accompanied by right or left bundle branch block has been described. This lesion occurred in 2 rats on low thiamine intakes who manifested none of the usual signs of acute thiamine deficiency. In later stages, when thiamine was withdrawn completely, a variety of electrocardiographic abnormalities were encountered. These changes developed a wk. or more before polyneuropathy occurred and usually became more and more severe until treatment was given. The following changes were noted: 1) bradycardia, 2) sinus arhythmia, 3) auricular fibrillation, 4) A-V nodal rhythms, 5) sinus arrest, 6) shifting pacemaker, 7) first degree A-V block, 8) auricular, A-V nodal and ventricular extopic beats, 9) widened QRS, 10) P and T wave changes. In most instances these defects were partially or completely corrected after thiamine therapy. In a considerable % of these rats there were areas of pathologic changes in the auricular myocardium and pulmonary veins.