[Permanent forms of tachyarrhythmia as the possible cause of the development of the dilated cardiomyopathy syndrome].

To specify a possible role played by rhythm disorders in the development of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), 9 patients showing permanent sinus and/or supraventricular tachycardia (since birth or within the first 5 years of life) coupled with ventricular rhythm disorders and 11 patients with an assumed infectious disease onset were examined. It has been established that in supraventricular tachycardia, sinus tachycardia included, patients of the child and juvenile age may develop dysfunction of the left ventricle followed by its dilatation which manifests clinically by DCM. The use of antiarrhythmic (cordarone) in such cases may lead to diminution and even to normalization of the heart size and to amelioration of the hemodynamic parameters.