Clinical features of patients with congenital complete atrioventricular block

Abstract

Aim: Evaluation of the clinical features of the children with congenital complete atrioventricular block.Material and Methods: The hospital records of children who had been admitted to the Uludag University Pediatric Cardiology Unit between January 1994 and Nowember 2005 were reviewed retrospectively and a total of 12 patients who were diagnosed as congenital complete A-V block between this period were involved the study. Medical records of these patients were reviewed.Results; A total of 12 patients (7 male and 5 female) were involved the study. The children ranged in age from 1 day to 6 years with a mean age of 16 months and a median age of 12 months at the time of diagnosis. Seven of 12 patients were referred to our unit due to bradycardia and rhythym problem; four of them due to murmur, and the remaining one due to syncope. Intrauterine bradycardia was also detected in four of seven patients with the symptom of bradycardia. On echocardiographic examination, corrected transposition of great arteries was found in one patient, and patent ductus arteriosus in three. Totally, specific anti-Ro and anti-La antibody were detected in the mother of six patients and one of them also had the other symptoms of neonatal lupus syndrome. Mean ventricular and atrial rates of 12 patients, obtained from electrocardiography at the time of diagnosis, were 54 +/- 11 and, 116 +/- 24 respectively. Pacemaker was implanted in eight patients. The follow up period ranged from 1 months to 11 years. Age at last evaluation ranged from 6 months old to 13 years old.Conclusion: In all fetuses with bradyarrhythmias detected in utero and all fetuses of women with anti-Ro/La antibodies, serial echocardiographic monitoring is strongly advised.