Chronic Low Dose Prostaglandin and Neonatal Heart Block

Long-term prostaglandin use is commonly associated with side effects such as cortical proliferation of the bones, hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, and soft tissue swelling of the extremities. We report a neonate with critical coarctation of the aorta, who developed second and third degree atrioventricular blocks associated with prolonged prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) infusion. Interestingly, these conduction blocks only occurred at low PGE1 dose. The rhythm disturbances resolved promptly with the discontinuation of PGE1 following surgical repair.