Fetal and maternal magnetocardiography during flecainide therapy for supraventricular tachycardia.
BACKGROUND
Fetal magnetocardiography is a noninvasive technique capable of identifying fetal arrhythmias and can simultaneously characterize the cardiac rhythm of the mother and fetus.


METHODS
Three patients, two singleton pregnancies and one twin pregnancy, were admitted for evidence of fetal supraventricular tachycardia. Fetal magnetocardiography was used to monitor the effects of flecainide therapy on the fetus and mother. Two singleton pregnancy fetuses showed improved heart rate and cardiac rhythm within 1 week of the initial dosing. Maintenance dosages controlled the conditions thereafter. Flecainide slowed the supraventricular tachycardia in the twin subject, but magnetocardiography revealed maternal adverse effects necessitating termination of flecainide therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Magnetocardiography is a valuable tool for rhythm diagnosis and for monitoring the maternal and fetal cardiac rhythms in a patient undergoing flecainide therapy for fetal supraventricular tachycardia.
Campbell
J Quaid
JQ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA. campbellquaid@uams.edu
Best
Thomas H
TH
Eswaran
Hari
H
Lowery
Curtis L
CL
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005424:Flecainide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014427:Twins
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D005424:Flecainide