Pediatrics & Therapeutics
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0665
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2161-0665
+44 1478 350008
Alban-Elouen Baruteau
CHU Rennes, France Universite de Rennes 1, France INSERM, France INSERM, U642, France Institut du Thorax, France
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Pediatr Therapeut
Introduction: Th e natural history of congenital or childhood non-immune, isolated atrioventricular (AV) block is poorly defi ned.
Methods: We retrospectively studied 141 children with isolated, non-immune AV block diagnosed in utero, or up to 15 years of age, at 13 French medical centers, between 1980 and 2009. Patients with structural heart disease or maternal antibodies were excluded.
Results: AV block was asymptomatic in 119 (84.4%) and complete in 100 (70.9%) patients. Th ere was progression to complete AV block in 29/41 (70.7%) patients with incomplete AV block over 2.8 ± 3.4 years (1-155 months) but all patients with incomplete AV block may not have been included in the study. Narrow QRS complex was present in 18 of 26 patients (69.2%) with congenital, and 106 of 115 (92.2%) with childhood AV block. Pacemakers were implanted in 112 children (79.4%), during the fi rst year of life in 18 (16.1%) and before 10 years of age in 90 (80.4%). Th e mean interval between diagnosis of AV block and pacemaker implants was 2.6 ± 3.9 years (0-300 months). Th e pacing indication was prophylactic in 70 children (62.5%). During a median follow-up of 11.6 ± 6.7 years (1-32 years), no patient died or developed dilated cardiomyopathy. Th e long-term followup was uncomplicated in 127 children (90.1%).
Conclusion: In this large multicenter study, the long-term outcome of congenital or childhood non-immune, isolated AV block was favorable, regardless of the patient’s age at the time of diagnosis. No patient died or developed dilated cardiomyopathy, and pacemaker-related complications were few.