title: [Permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia in children and adolescents. Efficacy of medical treatment].
abstract: Between 1969 and 1991, 11 patients were followed up for permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia. The average age at diagnosis was 2 years and 4 months (1 day to 14 years). The tachycardia was diagnosed at routine examination in 5 cases and following an episode of cardiac failure in the other 6. Digitalis was prescribed in all patients with 4 good results, 5 average and 2 poor results. One patient, who remained in mild cardiac failure with digitalis therapy, died suddenly at the age of 9 years. In more recent cases, amiodarone was used from the onset or secondarily with good results in all patients. In 2 patients, in whom amiodarone was withdrawn after 3 months and 3 years' treatment, there was a recurrence of the tachycardia. No side effects of amiodarone therapy were observed in this series. Three patients were prescribed flecainide with 1 good and 2 average results. Propranolol, used in 2 cases, was associated with 1 average and 1 poor result. Disopyramide and Verapamil were ineffective. These results suggest that amiodarone is the drug to choose in permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia but it must be given long term. The persistence of cardiac failure, poor control of the tachycardia or secondary effects of drug therapy should lead to consideration of non-medical management of the tachycardia.
authors.affiliation: Service de cardiologie B, hôpital Hôtel-Dieu, Rennes.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schleich
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vaksmann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khanoyan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rey
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dupuis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D013613:Tachycardia, Ectopic Junctional / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D004071:Digitalis Glycosides; D000638:Amiodarone
vernacular_title: Les tachycardies jonctionnelles permanentes par rythme réciproque chez l'enfant et l'adolescent. Efficacité du traitement médicamenteux.