title: Fetus with long QT syndrome manifested by tachyarrhythmia: a case report.
abstract: We encountered a fetus who exhibited transient (at most 30 s), repeated episodes of tachyarrhythmia (240 bpm). This female neonate was born at 36 weeks of gestation and showed a markedly prolonged QT interval and transient, repeated episodes of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. Congenital long QT syndrome was diagnosed. Retrospective analysis of the videotape showing fetal cardiac movement revealed that atrio-ventricular dissociation was present prenatally and thus, the fetal tachyarrhythmia was due to ventricular tachycardia. To our knowledge, there are few reports of a fetus with the long QT syndrome who exhibited ventricular tachycardia in utero. In the presence of unexplained fetal tachyarrhythmia, long QT syndrome should be considered as a possible underlying cause disorder. The presence of atrio-ventricular dissociation may be useful in prenatal diagnosis of long QT syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Center for Perinatal Medicine, Jichi Medical School Hospital, Minamikawachi-machi, Tochigi, 329-04, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohkuchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Minakami
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology*