Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Imaging Cleared Embryonic and Postnatal Hearts at Single-cell Resolution
Published on: October 7, 2016
Resolution of hydrops fetalis caused by atrioventricular block: good postnatal evolution with terbutaline treatment
Introduction:
Complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) is rarely seen, as it occurs in only 1:11 000 to 1:20 000 newborns. There is a serious risk of mortality in CAVB, mainly in those cases associated with hydrops, fetal cardiac frequency ≤ 55 beats/minute, and premature delivery.
Case Report:
Case of complete atrioventricular block with a poor prognosis (hydrops fetalis and foetal cardiac frequency < 5 beats/minute) caused by anti-La and anti-Ro antibodies. Intrauterine symptoms improved after treatment with terbutaline, permit- ting foetal viability and successful postnatal treatment with a cardiac pacemaker.
Discussion:
In case of complete atrioventricular block of cause autoimmune with poor prognosis should be treated with positive inotropic drugs, anticholinergics or b-mimetic in the attempt to maintain adequate ventricular frequency, and thus prevent hydrops fetalis from occurring.
Related Concept Videos
The Evidence for Evolution
Convergent Evolution
Eukaryotic Evolution
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
Synteny and Evolution
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral...
Block Diagram Reduction
The first step in this process is the identification and relocation of a branch point. A branch point, where a...
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

