[Follow-up of children with prenatal diagnosis of supraventricular extrasystole].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was the follow-up of children with a prenatal diagnosis of supraventricular extrasystole (SVES) up to an age of 5 years in order to assess the long term outcome of these children and in order to characterize factors influencing the outcome.


METHODS
All fetuses diagnosed with prenatal SVES between April 1993 and August 2005 were identified and the children's parents and pediatricians contacted for data regarding the children's health. Follow-up data about the children's health up to the age of 5 years could be obtained in 77 (46.1%) children.


RESULTS
0.5% (167/34,770) of all fetuses were diagnosed with prenatal SVES. In 70% of cases the SVES resolved before or at birth. 30% of children presented with arrhythmia postpartum. 31% of children were diagnosed with cardiac anomalies postpartum. 87% of children were healthy at the age of 2 - 5 years. In the subgroup of children with isolated fetal SVES without further anomalies, 95% of children were healthy at the age of 2 - 5 years. In children with persisting arrhythmia and in children with cardiac anomalies, the prognosis was worse.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, by the long-term follow-up of 77 children with prenatal SVES we could show that prenatal SVES has a good prognosis. However, 30% of children develop arrhythmia postpartum and 31% of children present with cardiac anomalies. These children still have a worse prognosis than children with isolated prenatal SVES.
Ludwig
A K
AK
ENDOKRINOLOGIKUM Hamburg, Zentrum für Hormon- und Stoffwechselerkrankungen, Reproduktionsmedizin und Pränatale Medizin, Hamburg. Annika.Ludwig@endokrinologikum.com
Chase
K
K
Axt-Fliedner
R
R
Gembruch
U
U
Diedrich
K
K
Krapp
M
M
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D050498:Live Birth; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013689:Telephone; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*