title: Treatment of atrial ectopic tachycardia in infants < 6 months old.
abstract: Nineteen infants < 6 months old who had atrial ectopic tachycardia (AET) were treated with antiarrhythmic drugs. AET was controlled with digoxin in 1 patient, propafenone in 2, digoxin with propafenone in 9, digoxin with amiodarone in 4, and digoxin with propafenone and amiodarone in 2; radiofrequency ablation was performed in 1 drug-resistant case. AET resolved in 14 of 15 infants within 1 year. Drug side effects occurred in 5 patients. We conclude that AET in infants < 6 months old can be successfully treated with antiarrhythmic drugs, and we recommend a three-step approach with digoxin, a class 1C antiarrhythmic drug, and a class 3 drug. Resolution of AET in infants is frequent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bauersfeld
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gow
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Izukawa
mesh_terms: D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004077:Digoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011405:Propafenone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D013612:Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D011405:Propafenone; D004077:Digoxin; D000638:Amiodarone