(1) The RS-T and T changes were observed in 27 of 57 cases (47%)with gastrointestinall cancer, in 12 of 19 cases (63%) with liver cirrhosis, and in 5 of 26 cases (19%) with hepatitis, respectively. Most cases with RS-T changes were revealed to have hypopotassemia lower than 3.5mEq./L., while cases with lowering of the T wave alone had hypalbuminemia lower than 3.0Gm./100ml. It was assumed that the hypalbuminemia rather than dysproteinemia on the one hand and hypopotassemia on the other hand might be contributing factors to the RS-T and T changes in these diseases.
(2) In biliary tract diseases, the RS-T and T changes were observed in 27 of 83 cases (33%). The serum albumin and potassium levels were ranged mostly above the critical level regardless of the electrocardiographic findings. Of 23 cases, in which the electrocardiogram was recorded during colic attack, the RS-T or T changes appeared or became aggravated in 14 cases. The anoxia or double two-step tests revealed the positive results in 3 of 7 cases examined. In autopsied series, coronary sclerosis was more common in cases with gallbladder diseases than in the control. From these findings, the RS-T and T changes in the biliary tract diseases can be attributed to the coronary disorders, which may be functional, organic or both.
(3) In peptic ulcer, the RS-T and T changes were observed in 14 of 93 cases (15%) and in gastroptosis in 4 of 54 cases (7%). It is known that these diseases frequently have hypotension and that T wave often becomes flat or inverted in upright position In the hypotensive patients. In our series, 49% of peptic ulcer and 81% of gastroptosis were hypotensive and lowering of the T wave in upright position was seen in 43% of the former and in 53% of the latter. From these viewpoints, the RS-T or T changes observed in these diseases in recumbent position may be interpreted to be a higher degree of the findings observed in upright position and attributed to the autonomic nervous dysregulation or circulatory dysfunction, as interpreted in hypotension.