[Evolution and the median- and long-term prognosis of reentry supraventricular tachycardias in children].

UNLABELLED

We have evaluated 37 children with reentrant supraventricular tachycardia and followed them up for 3.9 +/- 2.7 years. Our 37 patients ranged in age from 1 day to 15 years (mean 4.6 +/- 4 years). When supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) began, 14 patients were less than 1 year old (Group A), and 23 were more than 1 year old (Group B). Cardiac heart disease occurred in 6 children, and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome was present in 7 children. After the initial episodes of SVT had been converted, chronic therapy was begun in 87% of cases (A 100%, B 78%) and continued for at least 12 months. During follow-up, therapy was discontinued with good results in 51% of patients (A 79%, B 39%). Recurrences were observed in 19% of cases (A 14%, B 22%), and WPW syndrome was a predisposing factor. Among those patients who were treated, none of the drug regimens used, proved significantly better in preventing recurrence.

IN CONCLUSION

the long-term prognosis of SVT is better in Group A than in B. In Group A it is possible to discontinue therapy in most cases; on the contrary in Group B chronic treatment is often necessary. In this group it is important to evaluate if and how the side effects of the drugs can change the long-term prognosis of these patients.