PAROXYSMAL VENTRICULAR-FIBRILLATION IN CHILDREN - LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF 3 CASES TREATED WITH BETA-BLOCKING-AGENTS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 202  (5) , 425-427
Abstract
A long-term follow-up report is given on 3 children with stress-induced bursts of ventricular activity occasionally proceeding to ventricular fibrillation causing syncope. All patients were treated with a .beta.-blocking agent [practolol or propranolol] as prophylaxis for 12, 10 and 6 yr, respectively. Case 1 has no signs of organic heart disease. She was followed from the age of 8 yr and had her last syncope in 1974. She was last seen in Nov. 1976 doing well at the age of 20. Case 2 started having syncopes after an attack of measles at the age of 8 yr, at which time she probably acquired some damage to her myocardium. She had persistent bradycardia but no other signs of heart disease. She had an uneventful pregnancy and delivery in 1973 and gave birth to a normal child. She died suddenly in 1974 at the age of 22, 4th yr after her last syncopal attack. Case 3 had cardiomyopathy with increasing heart size and exertional dyspnea and marked ischemic ECG changes during exercise. He was followed from the age of 7 yr. He died suddenly in 1974 at the age of 16, 4 yr after his last syncope.