[Propafenone efficacy in preventing supraventricular tachycardia in childhood].
OBJECTIVE
In order to study the efficiency of oral dose of propafenone in preventing childhood supraventricular tachycardias, we have treated 38 children without left ventricular dysfunction.


METHODS
The mean age has been 8 +/- 4.7 years old. All of them had suffered at least two episodes of supraventricular tachycardia, and eleven had undergone a previous antiarrhythmic treatment. The initial dose of propafenone has been 6.5 +/- 2.1 mg/kg/24 h (in 3 doses), which has been increased in case of inefficacy.


RESULTS
We have not advised neither side-effects, nor proarrhythmic effects, during a follow-up of 13 +/- 6 months. Propafenone has been efficient in preventing supraventricular tachycardias in all patients. The initial dose has been efficient in 17 patients, and we have increased the initial dose up to 11.1 +/- 3.7 mg/kg/24 h in 21 patients. The mean effective dose has been 8.9 +/- 3.6 mg/kg/24 h. We stopped treatment in 14 patients after been 6 months without supraventricular tachycardias.


CONCLUSIONS
From our study, we conclude that propafenone has been efficient in preventing supraventricular tachycardias in childhood with a dose of 8.9 mg/kg/24 h. We have not found side-effects.
Bodegas
A
A
Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital de Cruces, Baracaldo, Vizcaya.
Cabrera
A
A
Sarrionaindía
M J
MJ
Idígoras
G
G
Rumoroso
J R
JR
Pérez García
P
P
Pastor
E
E
Galdeano
J M
JM
Sota
J
J
Barrenetxea
J I
JI
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000187:drug effects; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011405:Propafenone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012008:Recurrence; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*
D011405:Propafenone
Eficacia de la propafenona en la prevención de la taquicardia supraventricular en la infancia.