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Updated: Sep 20, 2026

Analysis of Electrocardiograms and Behavior in Mice from Pregnancy to Lactation Period
Published on: April 5, 2024
Pregnancy-associated idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia: Serial electrocardiographic evolution during pregnancy and
Sávia Bueno1, Patricia de Oliveira1, Walkiria Samuel Avila1
1Instituto do Coração-HCFMUSP, Av. Dr. Enéas Carvalho de Aguiar, 44 - Cerqueira César, São Paulo, SP 05403-900, Brazil.
Abstract:
Pregnancy can trigger or exacerbate ventricular arrhythmias even in structurally normal hearts. A 41-year-old woman at 22 weeks' gestation developed symptomatic monomorphic premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and frequent nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT), with 11% PVC burden and 313 NSVT episodes. Metoprolol reduced arrhythmic burden but not symptoms. Sotalol, introduced with serial QT monitoring, was followed by complete symptomatic and Holter suppression. One month postpartum, asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmia recurred off therapy, then resolved spontaneously by three months. Serial monitoring illustrates marked pregnancy-related variability and the potential dissociation between symptoms and arrhythmic burden.
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