Overview of fetal arrhythmias.
OBJECTIVE
Though fetal arrhythmias account for a small proportion of referrals to a fetal cardiologist, they may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The present review outlines the current literature with regard to the diagnosis and, in brief, some management strategies in fetal arrhythmias.


RESULTS
Advances in echocardiography have resulted in significant improvements in our ability to elucidate the mechanism of arrhythmia at the bedside. At the same time, magnetocardiography is broadening our understanding of mechanisms of arrhythmia especially as it pertains to ventricular arrhythmias and congenital heart block. It provides a unique window to study electrical properties of the fetal heart, unlike what has been available to date. Recent reports of bedside use of fetal ECG make it a promising new technology. Fetal magnetocardiography is also developing. The underlying mechanisms resulting in immune-mediated complete heart block in a small subset of 'at-risk' fetuses is under investigation.


CONCLUSIONS
There have been great strides in noninvasive diagnosis of fetal arrhythmias. However, we still need to improve our knowledge of the electromechanical properties of the fetal heart as well as the mechanisms of arrhythmia to further improve outcomes. Multiinstitutional collaborative studies are needed to help answer some of the questions regarding patient, drug selection and management algorithms.
Srinivasan
Shardha
S
Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, American Family Children's Hospital, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53201, USA.
Strasburger
Janette
J
D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality*; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D046689:Fetal Mortality / Q000639:trends; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
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