Long-term efficacy and safety of atenolol for supraventricular tachycardia in children.

Propranolol, a first-generation nonselective beta-adrenoceptor blocking agent, is commonly used to treat pediatric arrhythmias. Atenolol, relatively long-acting, cardioselective beta-adrenoceptor blocking agent, has been successfully used in adults with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). There is only one report on the use of atenolol in children with SVT; and our report is on the first long-term prospective study to evaluate the use of atenolol in children. A group of 22 children < 18 years of age with clinical SVT were enrolled in the study. The tachycardia was documented on electrocardiograms in each case and was confirmed by electrophysiologic studies in some. Once-a-day oral atenolol was started as a monotherapy. Of the 22 children with various types of SVT, 13 (59%) were well controlled on long-term oral atenolol therapy. The effective dose of atenolol ranged between 0.3 and 1.3 mg/kg/day (median effective dose 0.7 mg/kg/day). Five children had some adverse effects. However, none in the successful group of 13 patients required drug discontinuation because of such effects. Once-a-day oral atenolol as a monotherapy is effective and relatively safe for long-term management of SVT during childhood. It is an attractive alternative beta-adrenoceptor blocking agent for the management of pediatric arrhythmias.