Key result
Expectant management with steroids and beta-mimetics in a pregnancy with severe fetal bradycardia and anti-Ro/SSA antibodies allowed delivery of a healthy infant at 34 weeks.
Why the study?
Can expectant management with steroids and beta-mimetics lead to a favorable outcome in a pregnancy complicated by complete fetal heart block and severe bradycardia?
Case Report (n=1)
Can expectant management with steroids and beta-mimetics lead to a favorable outcome in a pregnancy complicated by complete fetal heart block and severe bradycardia?
Expectant management with steroids and beta-mimetics may allow for normal fetal growth and favorable delivery outcomes in pregnancies complicated by anti-Ro/SSA antibodies and complete fetal heart block.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Hypothesis-generating for expectant management in anti-Ro/SSA fetal bradycardia; prospective studies needed before clinical adoption.
BACKGROUND: Pregnancies complicated by congenital heart block usually have a poor prognosis when there is severe fetal bradycardia. CASE: We present a pregnancy with fetal heart rate of 40 beats per minute. She previously delivered a child with third-degree heart block by cesarean at 28 weeks. This pregnancy was complicated by a high ribonucleoprotein antibody anti-Ro/SSA titer and fetal bradycardia. The patient was treated with steroids and beta-mimetics. The fetus continued to grow normally with reassuring biophysical profiles. After fetal lung maturity documentation at 34 weeks, she delivered by repeat cesarean a healthy 2349-g infant who required a permanent pacemaker. CONCLUSION: Reassuring antepartum testing and normal growth in pregnant women with anti-Ro/SSA antibodies and congenital heart block may allow expectant management until fetal maturity.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Vatché A. Minassian (2002) conducted a case report in Pregnancy with complete fetal heart block and severe bradycardia (n=1). Steroids and beta-mimetics was evaluated on Fetal outcome. Expectant management with steroids and beta-mimetics in a pregnancy with severe fetal bradycardia and anti-Ro/SSA antibodies allowed delivery of a healthy infant at 34 weeks.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: