title: Fetuses of Mothers with Thyroid Disease May Be at Higher Risk of Developing Supraventricular Tachycardia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fetal tachyarrhythmias complicate 0.5% of pregnancies, with high morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that maternal factors may predispose to fetal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed medical records of all 124 mothers who presented to the Vanderbilt Fetal Cardiology Clinic from 2004 to 2010 for fetal arrhythmias, excluding heart block. Maternal factors were compared between 28 fetuses with SVT and a control group of 112 fetuses screened for noncardiac conditions. The proportions were analyzed using chi-square or Fisher exact test for categorical variables and Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of maternal factors, thyroid disease was statistically significant compared with controls. Among mothers whose fetuses had SVT, 21% had thyroid disease (83% hypothyroidism) compared with 3% of controls (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this cohort, the maternal thyroid disease was more common in fetuses with SVT compared with controls (odds ratio = 9.8, 95% confidence interval 2.3-42.3), suggesting closer screening for fetal arrhythmias and SVT in mothers with thyroid disease. Also, routine screening of thyroid functions and thyroid autoantibodies may be warranted in mothers of fetuses with SVT.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Zengqi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kavanaugh-McHugh
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Fish
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Stacy A S
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Killen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology; D018880:Atrial Premature Complexes / Q000453:epidemiology; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000453:epidemiology; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine