Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
2010-8-10
pubmed:abstractText
Foetal echocardiographic ultrasound techniques still remain the dominating modality for diagnosing foetal atrioventricular block (AVB). Foetal electrocardiography might become a valuable tool to measure time intervals, but magnetocardiography is unlikely to get a place in clinical practice. Assuming that AVB is a gradually progressing and preventable disease, starting during a critical period in mid-gestation with a less abnormal atrioventricular conduction before progressing to a complete irreversible AVB (CAVB), echocardiographic methods to detect first-degree AVB have been developed. The time intervals obtained with these techniques are all based on the identification of mechanical or hemodynamic events as markers of atrial (A) and ventricular (V) depolarizations and will accordingly include both electrical and mechanical components. Prospective observational studies have demonstrated a transient prolongation of AV time intervals in anti-Ro/SSA antibody-exposed foetuses, but it has not succeeded to identify a degree of AV time prolongation predicting irreversible cardiac damage and progression to CAVB. Causes of sustained bradycardia include CAVB, 2:1 AVB, sinus bradycardia and blocked atrial bigeminy (BAB). Using foetal echocardiographic techniques and a systematic approach, a correct diagnosis can be made in almost every case. Sinus bradycardia and CAVB are usually easy to diagnose, but BAB has a tendency to be sustained and shows a high degree of resemblance with 2:1 AVB when diagnosed during mid-gestational. As BAB resolves without treatment and 2:1 AVB may respond to treatment with fluorinated steroids, a correct diagnosis becomes an issue of major importance to avoid unnecessary treatment of harmless and spontaneously reversing conditions.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Sep
pubmed:issn
1365-3083
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
72
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
205-12
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2010
pubmed:articleTitle
Diagnosing foetal atrioventricular heart blocks.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. sven-erik.sonesson@karolinska.se
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't