[Antenatal diagnosis of congenital heart diseases and fetal arrhythmias].

Fetal echocardiographic, electrocardiographic, and pulsed Doppler ultrasonic examinations were performed to detect congenital heart anomalies and fetal arrhythmias antenatally, from April 1980 to March 1985. In nineteen subjects, these techniques revealed premature atrial contractions (PAC) in five fetuses, PAC and blocked PAC in two, PAC and premature ventricular contraction (PVC) in one, PAC, blocked PAC and PVC in one, sinus bradycardia in one, congenital complete atrio-ventricular block in one, atrial septal defect with PAC and PVC in one, fetal unilateral hydronephrosis with PAC and PVC in one, complicated heart anomalies with dilated colon in one, single atrium and ventricle with esophageal and anal atresiae in one, complicated heart anomalies with encephalocele and single umbilical artery in one, and asymmetrical septal hypertrophy in one, antenatally. In nine out of fifteen cases with fetal arrhythmias, the arrhythmia resolved within the first month of life. Sustained arrhythmias occurred in three cases. In three cases with fetal arrhythmias, in utero therapies with Coenzyme Q10(CoQ10) were performed, and anti-arrhythmic effects of CoQ10 recognized. Deaths occurred in three cases with complicated heart anomalies.