Ventricular tachycardia in children with diphtheritic myocarditis

Nine children with diphtheritic ventricular tachycardia ranging in age from 2 to 11 years (mean 6.5 years) were observed and followed up until their terminal state. The ventricular tachycardia showed a left bundle branch block contour in 5 of 9 patients, right bundle branch block in four, multifocal pacemaker in three and unifocal in six patients. Fusion and captured beats were present in two and 4 patients respectively, including one patient who had both. Four cases were without obvious atrio-ventricular dissociation. All patients were treated with standard therapy for diphtheria, and prednison was given to patients with myocarditis. Because of its controversial results, antiarrhythmic agent was not given. The prognosis is very poor; all patients died one to 8 days after ventricular tachycardia appearance.