Alban-Elouen Baruteau
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Pediatr Therapeut
Introduction: Th e natural history of congenital or childhood non-immune, isolated atrioventricular (AV) block is poorly defi ned. Methods: We retrospectively studied 141 children with isolated, non-immune AV block diagnosed in utero , or up to 15 years of age, at 13 French medical centers, between 1980 and 2009. Pat ients with structural heart disease or maternal antibodies were excluded. Results: AV block was asymptomatic in 119 (84.4%) and complete in 100 (70.9%) patients. Th ere was progression to complete AV block in 29/41 (70.7%) patients with incomplete AV block over 2.8 � 3.4 years (1-155 months) but all patients with incomplete AV block may not have been included in the study. Narrow QRS complex was present in 18 of 26 patients (69.2%) with congenital, and 106 of 115 (92.2%) with childhood AV block. Pacemakers were implanted in 112 children (79.4%), during the fi rst year of life in 18 (16.1%) and before 10 years of age in 90 (80.4%). Th e mean interval between diagnosis of AV block and pacemaker implants was 2.6 � 3.9 years (0-300 months). Th e pacing indication was prophylactic in 70 children (62.5%). During a median follow-up of 11.6 � 6.7 years (1-32 years), no patient died or developed dilated cardiomyopathy. Th e long-term follow- up was uncomplicated in 127 children (90.1%). Conclusion: In this large multicenter study, the long-term outcome of congenital or childhood non-immune, isolated AV block was favorable, regardless of the patient�s age at the time of diagnosis. No patient died or developed dilated cardiomyopathy, a nd pacemaker-related complications were few.
