Sydenham's chorea, a syndrome for differential diagnosis

154

AMERICAN

HEART

JOURNAL

to warm to cold during a winter experimental period. Blood volumes were calculated by a carbon monoxide method combined with estimation of the volume of packed red cells. During both experimental periods total circulating hemoglobin changed little and the alterations observed indicated a change in plasma volume alone. It increased during exposure to prolonged heat and decreased in cold environment. Diurnal variation in plasma volume is presumably dependent on posture. A recumbent position favors an increase in the volume of circulating plasma; upright posture decreases plasma volume. HECHT. Hernberg, (Nov.),

C. A. : Myocardial 1947.

Affection

in Malaria

Six of 596 patients suffering from malaria were tion, and rapid heart action occurring usually two acridine-plasmochin treatment. At the time of antimalarial medication. In one patient treated enlargement was suspected. Electrocardiograms the S-T segment and the T wave.

Tertiana,

Acta

med.

Scandinav.

129:132

observed to complain of stenocardia, palpitaweeks after the termination of the attack by the complaints the patients did net receive with quinine only, a pancarditis with cardiac during this period revealed minor changes in HECHT.

Ravich, Am.

R. M., and Rosenblatt, J. Pediat. 31~266 (Sept.),

P.: 1947.

Myocardial

Infarction

in

the

Newborn

Infant.

Two instances of myocardial infarction in newborn infants, 2 days and 10% hours of age; respectively, are described. The authors felt that the probable pathogenesis in the first case was intrauterine infection of long standing which affected the small arteries of the heart and lung and also resulted in fibrosing pancreatitis. The second infant had a very recent hemorrhagic infarct. The Rh studies were negative, and there were no other manifestations of hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. Other etiological possibilities suggested are: The pressor fraction of the pituitary extract may have caused excessive constriction of the coronary vessels; cranial trauma may have caused an increase in intracranial pressure and secondary vasoconstriction; direct trauma to the precordium must be considered. HAUB. Sydenham’s Kagan, B. M., and Mirman, B.: nosis. Am. J. Pediat. 31:322 (Sept.), 1947.

Chorea,

a Syndrome

for

Differential

Diag-

This study was made in order to investigate the differences between chorea with a normal Chorea associated with an increased sedimentation rate and chorea with an increased rate. sedimentation rate was found to be a manifestation of active rheumatic fever in 84 per cent of cases. Patients with chorea and a normal sedimentation rate during their first episode of chorea do not have rheumatic fever and are no more subject to its sequelae than are other members of the population. Psychogenic factors were much more common in cases of nonrheumatic chorea. Recurrences of chorea were found in 24 per cent of patients with rheumatic chorea and in Recurrences among patients with nononly 6 per cent of those with the nonrheumatic type. However, among forty-eight patients with rheurheumatic chorea were always nonrheumatic. matic chorea there were four recurrences that were not associated with any evidence of rheumatic activity. The etiology of nonrheumatic chorea has not been established, but the frequency of emotional disturbance suggests that psychogenic factors are important and that modern psychotherapeutic approach may yield practical results. HAUB. Feuchtwanger,

J. L. :

The author presents posure time. Emphasis

Arteriography

of, the

Limbs.

a technique for arteriography is placed on the fact that this

Brit.

J. Radiol.

20:363

of the limbs based upon is not a routine procedure

(Sept.),

1947.

prolonged exbut is most