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[Persistent supraventricular tachycardia in childhood]
Insights
Persistent junctional reciprocating tachycardia (PJRT) in children is often asymptomatic and resistant to typical treatments. However, this supraventricular tachycardia form typically resolves over time, suggesting a benign prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Cardiac Electrophysiology
- Arrhythmology
Context:
- Persistent supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) affects 20-30% of pediatric SVT cases.
- Two primary PSVT forms include atrial ectopic tachycardia and persistent junctional reciprocating tachycardia (PJRT).
- PJRT can be asymptomatic, leading to occasional diagnosis, and may persist for months or years.
Purpose:
- To present and discuss 9 pediatric cases of PJRT diagnosed between 1972 and 1985.
- To analyze the clinical course, treatment outcomes, and long-term prognosis of PJRT in children.
- To highlight PJRT's resistance to conventional antiarrhythmic drugs and recommend treatment to prevent heart failure.
Summary:
- The study reviewed 9 pediatric PJRT cases with a mean follow-up of 9.5 years.
- PJRT demonstrated significant resistance to standard antiarrhythmic therapies.
- Despite treatment challenges, the prognosis for PJRT is generally benign, with spontaneous resolution common in most cases.
Impact:
- Informs clinical management of pediatric PSVT, specifically PJRT.
- Underscores the need for antiarrhythmic treatment to mitigate risks like congestive heart failure.
- Provides long-term outcome data, supporting a favorable prognosis for PJRT in children.
Abstract:
Persistent or chronic supraventricular tachycardia is defined as the one occurring in more than 10% of cardiac rhythm during 24 hours. It may begin at any age, persisting months or years, and frequently it is discovered occasionally because it can be asymptomatic. The persistent supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) represents 20-30% of all supraventricular tachycardias in pediatric age. The two main forms of PSVT are: atrial ectopic tachycardia, and persistent junctional reciprocating tachycardia (PJRT). The authors present 9 cases of children affected by PJRT seen from 1972 to 1985. They discuss the clinical course (mean follow up = 9.5 years), the pharmacologic treatment, the results obtained. They underline the particular resistance to conventional antiarrhythmic therapy of this form. On the other hand an antiarrhythmic treatment is recommended to avoid the risk of congestive heart failure. Nevertheless the prognosis is considered benign because in the majority of cases this type of arrhythmia disappears later on.