Effect of prenatal antiarrhythmic treatment on cardiac function in a twin pregnancy.
We present a case of supraventricular tachycardia affecting one fetus in a twin pregnancy. Before and after treatment with flecainide and cardioversion, we examined conduction times and heart rate variability (HRV) in both twins on the basis of magnetocardiography. Cardiac conduction times increased in both fetuses but HRV showed opposing effects with a number of HRV measures. This case demonstrates that magnetocardiography not only enables identification of fetal arrhythmia, but also permits the investigation of the effects of antiarrhythmic treatment on the conductive system as well as on interaction with the autonomic nervous system.
Van Leeuwen
Peter
P
Department of Biomagnetism, Grönemeyer Institute of Microtherapy, University of Witten/Herdecke, Bochum, Germany. petervl@microtherapy.de
Schiermeier
Sven
S
Hailer
Birgit
B
Lange
Silke
S
Geue
Daniel
D
Hatzmann
Wolfgang
W
Grönemeyer
Dietrich
D
D000328:Adult; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005424:Flecainide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014427:Twins
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D005424:Flecainide