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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Neonatal lupus erythematosus syndrome: late detection of isolated heart block.

Heart block in neonatal lupus erythematosus is typically complete and detected in utero or in the neonatal period. We describe a child diagnosed with incomplete heart block at 9 years of age whose mother was diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome and anti-Ro(SSA) 2 years after diagnosis of heart block in her child. This is the first case of late detection of incomplete heart block in a child felt to be causally related to the presence of anti-Ro(SSA) in the mother.

Autoantigens↗

Exercise-induced complete heart block in a patient with chronic bifascicular block.

Heart block induced by exercise or associated with symptomatic, chronic bifascicular block can progress to high-grade atrioventricular (AV) block and sudden death. The authors describe a case of exercise-induced AV block in a patient with chronic bifascicular block. Thirty seconds of ventricular asystole were observed during exercise treadmill testing. Myocardial ischemia was ruled out, and the cause was determined to be distal AV nodal block. The pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of distal AV nodal block are reviewed. The role of exercise treadmill testing and electrophysiologic studies in distal AV block are outlined in a diagnostic and therapeutic strategy.

Aged↗

Risk of right bundle-branch block and complete heart block during pulmonary artery catheterization.

The need for the prophylactic insertion of a pacemaker before pulmonary artery catheterization in patients with pre-existing left bundle-branch block (LBBB) is controversial. To determine the incidence of new right bundle-branch block (RBBB) and complete heart block during bedside pulmonary artery catheterization, 293 patients undergoing 307 pulmonary artery catheterizations were prospectively studied. Nine patients had pacemaker rhythms and 19 patients had an RBBB on their precatheterization ECGs and therefore were excluded from analysis. In the remaining 279 pulmonary artery catheterizations, eight (3%) were associated with the development of a new RBBB. None of the 14 patients with a pre-existing LBBB developed complete heart block. The incidence of complete heart block during pulmonary artery catheterization of patients with previous LBBB was not higher than the incidence of RBBB in patients without underlying conduction defects. Because of the rare but grave consequences of RBBB in patients with pre-existing LBBB, we recommend the use of standby external pacemakers and equipment for transvenous pacemaker insertion in these patients during pulmonary artery catheterization. We do not recommend prophylactic pacemaker insertion.

Bundle-Branch Block↗

Hyperkalemia-induced bundle branch block and complete heart block.

Hyperkalemia was associated with complete heart block in one patient that resolved by first showing right anterior hemiblock). Then the right bundle branch block resolved, leaving the marked left axis deviation that was present before the hyperkalemic episode. Another patient with hyperkalemia had right bundle branch block with marked left axis deviation, both of which disappeared with correction of the hyperkalemia. These findings suggest that hyperkalemia can depress conduction in the His-Purkinje system and raise the possibility that hyperkalemia may induce complete heart block distal to the atrioventricular junction.

Aged↗

Neonatal lupus erythematosus with congenital heart block and severe heart failure due to myocarditis and endocardititis of the mitral valve.

We report a case of neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) with congenital heart block and severe myocardial failure, which was followed from the 25th week of gestation because of fetal bradycardia. The child was delivered at the 37th week of gestation by elective cesarean section because of echocardiographically documented heart enlargement, pericardial effusion and moderate insufficiency of the mitral and tricuspid valves. In spite of immediate pacing, intubation and supportive treatment, the newborn developed progressive heart failure. Echocardiography showed endocarditis of the mitral valve and diffuse myocarditis. The heart failure resolved under steroid treatment. Our experience supports the early use of steroids in treating myocarditis due to NLE. Intrauterine steroid treatment in the presence of fetal hydrops and congenital heart block is discussed.

Adult↗

Isolated congenital heart block: fetal and infant outcome and familial incidence of heart block.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the 1-year outcome of infants with isolated congenital heart block, the risk of fetal loss in mothers of affected infants, and the risk of recurrence of congenital heart block. METHODS: The outcomes of 34 infants with isolated congenital heart block and of the 109 pregnancies in the 32 mothers of these infants were analyzed retrospectively. A control group consisted of 170 pregnancies in 64 women individually matched for age, parity, and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: Five (15%) of the 34 infants with isolated congenital heart block died before 1 year of age. The relative risk for fetal loss in mothers of affected children, after the exclusion of a mother with 16 spontaneous abortions, was 1.9 (95% confidence interval 0.9-3.8; P = .094). The prevalence of congenital heart block in all siblings of children with congenital heart block was 4% (two of 45). The risk of having a child with congenital heart block after a previous birth of an affected child was 8% (two of 26). CONCLUSIONS: Infant mortality in isolated congenital heart block is considerable, and mothers of affected children tend to have an increased risk of fetal loss. However, the risk of recurrence of congenital heart block is low.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Molecular and ionic basis of congenital complete heart block.

Congenital heart block (CHB), detected at or before birth in a structurally normal heart, is strongly associated with autoantibodies reactive with the intracellular soluble ribonucleoproteins 48kD SSB/La, 52kD SSA/Ro, and 60kD SSA/Ro. CHB is presumed to be due to the transplacental passage of autoantibodies from the mother into the fetal circulation. Varying degrees of heart block have been reported. Although second degree block has, on rare occasion, reverted to normal sinus rhythm, complete atrio-ventricular (AV) block is irreversible. CHB carries substantial mortality and morbidity, with > 60% of affected children requiring lifelong pacemakers. The recurrence rate exceeds, by at least twofold, that of the first birth and is likely to influence the decision to have more children. Curiously, the mother's heart is almost never affected (with complete heart block) despite exposure to identical circulating autoantibodies. As part of our continuing effort to understand the complex factors contributing to the pathogenesis of CHB, we have established an animal model of CHB by immunizing female mice with recombinant proteins/antigens, reproduced the human complete AV block in an isolated Langendorff perfused fetal heart, and correlated these findings with L-type Ca channel inhibition by maternal antibodies from mothers of children with CHB. In addition, we established a passive animal model by directly injecting maternal antibodies into pregnant mice and reported significant sinus bradycardia, indicating that the spectrum of conduction abnormalities may extend beyond the AV node. All together, the data provided strong evidence supporting an etiologic role of antibody/Ca channel involvement in the pathogenesis of CHB. However, other yet unknown factors seem necessary to explain the full expression of CHB.

Animals↗

Beneficial effects of atrioventricular synchrony in dogs with right coronary artery embolization, and complete heart block.

Complete heart block complicating right ventricular infarction frequently is accompanied by shock. Hemodynamic responses to different pacing modes were studied in six anesthetized, closed chest dogs following right coronary artery embolization with mercury and heart block induced by repetitive trans-septal DC shock. Hemodynamics were recorded at control, following right coronary artery embolization, during atrioventricular sequential pacing (DVI) and ventricular pacing (VVI). With respect to the hemodynamics recorded during VVI and DVI pacing; (1) The mean arterial pressure increased by 29.4% during DVI pacing (92.1 +/- 31.3 mm Hg vs 73.4 +/- 28.9 mm Hg p less than 0.005). This increase was primarily due to an augmentation in systolic arterial pressure. (2) The left ventricular end diastolic pressure increased by 35.8% during DVI pacing (16.3 +/- 5.3 mm Hg vs 12.0 +/- 4.3 mm Hg p less than 0.01). (3) Cardiac output improved by 33.8% during DVI pacing (2.34 +/- 0.75 L/min vs 1.76 +/- 0.59 L/min, p less than 0.0005). This was a consistent improvement in cardiac output with a narrow range of 27.1% to 39.0%. (4) There were no significant changes in right atrial, pulmonary, pulmonary capillary wedge pressures or in systemic vascular resistance. In dogs with right coronary artery occlusion and complete heart block DVI pacing is clearly superior to VVI pacing. This is probably because the atrial contribution to ventricular filling, in this model, is critically important to maintain an adequate cardiac output.

Animals↗

Investigative methods of congenital complete heart block.

Congenital heart block (CHB) has been described for a century and related to the presence of maternal autoimmune disease for three decades, but little is understood about its mechanism. To explore the pathophysiology of CHB, technologies in both basic and clinical electrophysiology are being developed and applied. Human fetal rhythm is currently inferred from cardiac mechanical events by using fetal ultrasound, allowing for the detection of second and third-degree heart block. Fetal electrocardiography is being explored to assess its feasibility as a clinical tool to detect fetal first-degree block in the mid trimester. Sequential composite digital recordings from the maternal abdomen are made every 4 weeks from pregnancies at risk for congenital heart block. Filtering and averaging techniques are used to enhance the fetal signal. So far, these techniques have produced a fetal QRS complex trigger signal for use in three-dimensional fetal echocardiography. Because the human fetus cannot be studied directly, a Langendorff rabbit model of CHB has been developed. With 5-10 mL of human serum in 150-300 mL of Krebs solution, prolongation of the Wenckebach second-degree atrioventricular block cycle length occurred. This was reproduced by using serum from seven of eight CHB mothers as compared with none of six controls mothers.

Animals↗

Progressive improvement of His-Purkinje conduction during recovery from catheter-induced heart block.

Complete heart block developed during HBE studies in a patient with left bundle branch block, after inadvertent catheter-induced trauma to the right bundle branch. Normal intraventricular conduction (HV interval) was documented during the initial part of the study, and was demonstrated to be markedly prolonged after the appearance of heart block. Conduction through the right bundle branch improved over a short period of time as manifested by steplike shortenings of the HV interval, until the original conduction velocity was re-established. This case strongly supports the concept that the His-Purkinje system is capable of varying its conduction velocity and further demonstrates that, in patients with bundle branch block, a prolonged HV interval indicates disease of the remaining bundle branch.

Bundle of His↗

Prognosis of acute myocardial infarction complicated by complete heart block (the Worcester Heart Attack Study).

As part of a community-based study of patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the Worcester, Massachusetts, metropolitan area, changes over time in the incidence rates of complete heart block (CHB) complicating AMI, and the prognostic impact of CHB on the in-hospital and long-term survival of these patients were examined. In all, 4,762 patients with validated AMI hospitalized at 16 hospitals in the Worcester metropolitan area during 1975, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1986 and 1988 constituted the study sample. The incidence rates of CHB complicating AMI remained relatively stable at 5.8% over the 13-year (1975 to 1988) period studied. The incidence rates of CHB were approximately twice as high in patients with inferior/posterior wall AMI (7.7%) as in those with anterior wall AMI (3.9%). Use of a multivariate regression analysis to control for factors affecting the incidence rates of CHB revealed that patients were at highest risk for developing CHB during the latter 2 study years (1986 and 1988). Patients with AMI developing CHB had higher in-hospital case fatality rates than did those without CHB overall, as well as during each of the 6 periods studied. The in-hospital survival associated with CHB did not improve over time. After use of a multivariate regression analysis to control for additional prognostic factors, the independent effect of CHB on in-hospital prognosis remained (adjusted risk of dying = 2.10; 95% confidence intervals = 1.37, 3.21). Patients with inferior wall AMI complicated by CHB were at significantly increased risk of dying during hospitalization compared with those without CHB (adjusted risk of dying = 2.71; 95% confidence intervals = 1.60, 4.59).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Complete heart block complicating retrograde left heart catheterization.

Three cases of complete heart block complicating retrograde left heart catheterization are presented. In two of the three cases, electrophysiologic study documented block below the AV (atrial ventricular) node. In the third recurrent complete heart block was fatal. It appears that complete heart block complicating retrograde left sided cardiac catheterization is not simply a pericatheterization event; rather, it appears that there is high risk of recurrent complete heart block and that electrophysiologic study is mandatory.

Aged↗