[Evolution and the median- and long-term prognosis of reentry supraventricular tachycardias in children].
We have evaluated 37 children with reentrant supraventricular tachycardia and followed them up for 3.9 +/- 2.7 years. Our 37 patients ranged in age from 1 day to 15 years (mean 4.6 +/- 4 years). When supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) began, 14 patients were less than 1 year old (Group A), and 23 were more than 1 year old (Group B). Cardiac heart disease occurred in 6 children, and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome was present in 7 children. After the initial episodes of SVT had been converted, chronic therapy was begun in 87% of cases (A 100%, B 78%) and continued for at least 12 months. During follow-up, therapy was discontinued with good results in 51% of patients (A 79%, B 39%). Recurrences were observed in 19% of cases (A 14%, B 22%), and WPW syndrome was a predisposing factor. Among those patients who were treated, none of the drug regimens used, proved significantly better in preventing recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
the long-term prognosis of SVT is better in Group A than in B. In Group A it is possible to discontinue therapy in most cases; on the contrary in Group B chronic treatment is often necessary. In this group it is important to evaluate if and how the side effects of the drugs can change the long-term prognosis of these patients.
Vignati
G
G
Dipartimento Cardiologico De Gasperis, Ospedale Ca' Granda-Niguarda, Milano.
Mauri
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013997:Time Factors
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
Evoluzione e prognosi a medio e lungo termine delle tachicardie sopraventricolari da rientro nel bambino.