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Edwin L. Rothfeld, MD
Newark, NJ

JAMA. 1970;213(4):626.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

In their communication on "Rapid Active External Rewarming in Accidental Hypothermia," (212:153, 1970), Fernandez et al describe the electrocardiographic features of hypothermia. While most of these alterations are nonspecific, the authors state that "... prominent J or 'camel hump' waves are pathognomonic of hypothermia." We seriously doubt that a prominent J deflection, as an isolated finding, is diagnostic of anything, because we see it frequently in normothermic, young adults who have no demonstrable cardiac or extracardiac disease. Often, such QRS alterations are observed in association with sinus arrhythmia and physiologic ST-T changes as demonstrated in the Figure. We agree that the constellation of bradycardia, conduction defects, QT prolongation, and "camel hump" or J deformities is highly suggestive of hypothermia. On the other hand, we cannot accept the statement that the "hypothermic hump" is a pathognomonic feature. . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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