Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 14, 2026
Multifocal Electroretinograms
Published on: December 4, 2011
The Complexity of Pediatric Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia and Its Prognostic Factors
Seung Min Baek1, Hyun Chung1, Mi Kyoung Song2
1Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Insights
Multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT) in infants generally has a good prognosis, especially in idiopathic cases. However, comorbidities can lead to a more variable clinical course for pediatric MAT patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
- Clinical Pediatrics
Background:
- Multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT) typically has a favorable outcome.
- Limited data exist on MAT's clinical course in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the clinical course of MAT in children.
- To identify prognostic factors for MAT in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for MAT patients (1997-2015).
- Assessment of arrhythmia control rates and factors associated with unfavorable outcomes.
- Comparison of findings with existing literature.
Main Results:
- 33 pediatric patients (27 infants) diagnosed with MAT.
- 42% had structural heart disease; 24% had lung disease; 18% had RASopathy.
- 84% of MAT cases achieved control within a median of 3.9 months.
- Mortality was higher in patients with structural heart disease (21% vs. 5%).
- Idiopathic infants showed a significantly lower rate of unfavorable outcomes.
Conclusions:
- MAT predominantly affects infants and usually has a favorable prognosis.
- Prognosis is particularly good in the idiopathic infant group.
- Comorbidities can lead to a variable clinical course for pediatric MAT.
Background And Objectives:
Multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT), in general, has a favorable outcome. However, there are insufficient data regarding MAT in a pediatric population. This study sought to determine the clinical course of MAT and identify potential prognostic factors.
Methods:
The medical records of MAT patients from 1997-2015 were reviewed. The arrhythmia control rate and factors for unfavorable outcomes were assessed and compared to those in the literature.
Results:
Of the 33 included patients (19 boys and 14 girls), 27 were infants less than 1 year of age. The median age at diagnosis was 1.7 months (range, 0 day to 14 years). Fourteen (42%) patients had structural heart disease. Eight (24%) patients had lung disease and 6 (18%) had a syndromic diagnosis belonging to RASopathy. Two patients developed polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, in whom genetic analysis confirmed the presence of the RyR2 mutation several years later. MAT was controlled in 26 patients (84%) within 3.9 months (median; range, 16 days-18.4 years) using an average of 2.4 medications. There were 3 cases of cardiopulmonary mortality. The arrhythmia control rate was higher in the infant group (85%) than in the non-infant group (67%), although this trend was not statistically significant. There was a significantly lower rate of unfavorable outcomes in the idiopathic infant group (n=11) than in the other groups (p=0.008). Considering the findings of previous studies, the mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with structural heart disease than in patients without (21% vs. 5%, p=0.01).
Conclusions:
MAT usually affects infants and has a favorable prognosis, particularly in the idiopathic infant group. However, in the presence of other comorbidities, MAT may have a variable clinical course.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Complexation Equilibria: Factors Influencing Stability of Complexes
02:16Transcription Factors
02:41Protein Complex Assembly
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
02:35Transcription Elongation Factors
The transcription elongation is regulated via pausing of RNA polymerase on several occasions during transcription. In bacteria, these halts are necessary because the transcription of DNA into mRNA is coupled to the translation of that mRNA...
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
01:57Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order...