Fetus with long QT syndrome manifested by tachyarrhythmia: a case report.
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.
Ohkuchi
A
A
Center for Perinatal Medicine, Jichi Medical School Hospital, Minamikawachi-machi, Tochigi, 329-04, Japan.
Shiraishi
H
H
Minakami
H
H
Eguchi
Y
Y
Izumi
A
A
Sato
I
I
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*