Cardiac involvement in postnatal rubella.

Two cases of rubella myocarditis are reported: a 6-year-old boy who developed a complete, distal to His, atrioventricular block, during the third day of illness; and a 12-year-old boy who developed myocarditis with congestive heart failure 20 days following rubella infection. Although permanent pacing was required in the first patient, six years later he showed a normal growth and maintained normal activity. The second patient has deteriorated markedly and 6 months after the initial illness he had severe heart failure. It should be noted that myocarditis with abnormalities of the conduction system or congestive heart failure may be a complication to postnatal rubella.