title: Fetal tachycardia: is digitalis still the first-line therapy?
abstract: Medical treatment of fetal tachycardias has substantially improved neonatal outcome over the past years. Digitalis has been often used as first-line therapy in these cases, and more recently the use of several newer agents have been reported. We present four cases of fetal tachycardia with a favorable neonatal outcome after successful treatment with digitalis. Rapid transplacental digitalization appears to be an effective and reliable treatment option for fetal tachycardia, particularly in non-hydropic fetuses. In hydropic fetuses, however, digitalis alone appears to be less effective and administration of a second drug is usually needed.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokrateion General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Athanassiadis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dadamogias
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Netskos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Avramidis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zafrakas
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mikos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Apostolidis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Asimakopoulos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bontis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004077:Digoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012008:Recurrence; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D004077:Digoxin