Clinical features and predictors of diphtheritic cardiomyopathy in Vietnamese children.

Background: Despite the availability of antitoxin and antibiotics, the mortality rate for diphtheria remains high, mostly because of cardiac complications.

Methods: During 1 year, 154 Vietnamese children with diphtheria admitted to a referral hospital were studied prospectively with clinical examination, including a simple pseudomembrane score, 12-lead and 24-hour electrocardiography, measurement of serum cardiac enzyme levels, and estimation of troponin T levels.

Results: Thirteen children had diphtheritic cardiomyopathy on admission, and 19 developed it subsequently.