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Ventricular tachycardia secondary to prolongation of the QT interval in a fetus with autoimmune mediated congenital complete heart block

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 May 2005

Christopher Duke ,
Graham Stuart  and
John M. Simpson
Christopher Duke
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, United Kingdom
Graham Stuart
Affiliation:
Congenital Heart Unit, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, United Kingdom
John M. Simpson
Affiliation:
Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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Abstract

We report a case where fetal echocardiography identified both complete heart block and ventricular tachycardia. The mother tested positive for anti-Ro antibodies. Prenatal detection of this unusual combination of arrhythmias prompted early postnatal evaluation, which revealed prolongation of the QT interval. Autoimmune mediated congenitally complete heart block associated with such prolongation of the QT interval has a poor prognosis. The child was successfully treated with beta blockers and implantation of a pacemaker.

Keywords

Long QT syndromefetal heartanti-Ro antibodyechocardiographyprenatal diagnosisarrhythmia
Type
Brief Report
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , June 2005 , pp. 319 - 321
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press

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