What is a common ECG finding suggestive of cor pulmonale?

Cor pulmonale, which refers to right ventricular enlargement and failure due to chronic pulmonary hypertension, often leads to specific changes on an electrocardiogram (ECG). A common finding associated with cor pulmonale is right atrial enlargement, which may manifest as various arrhythmias, one of the most notable being multifocal atrial tachycardia.

This particular arrhythmia is characterized by the presence of multiple P wave morphologies due to the ectopic atrial foci. The development of multifocal atrial tachycardia is often attributed to increased stretch and pressure in the right atrium due to chronic lung disease and pulmonary hypertension, both of which contribute to cor pulmonale.

The presence of multifocal atrial tachycardia can serve as an important diagnostic clue, indicating underlying pulmonary issues that may be affecting the cardiovascular system, highlighting the interactions between respiratory and cardiac pathology. The association of this arrhythmia with cor pulmonale underlines the impact of pulmonary disease on the heart and its electrical activity.