Premium
Long‐Term Follow‐Up of Children with Heart Block Born from Mothers with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Retrospective Study from the Database Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease in University Hospitals Leuven
Author(s) -
CALUWÉ EVA,
BRUAENE ALEXANDER,
WILLEMS RIK,
TROOST ELS,
GEWILLIG MARC,
REGA FILIP,
BUDTS WERNER
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/pace.12909
Subject(s) - medicine , heart block , interquartile range , heart disease , pediatrics , atrioventricular block , retrospective cohort study , electrocardiography
Background Children from mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus are frequently born with congenital heart block. This study aimed at evaluating long‐term outcome because long‐term data are scarce. Methods In the database of pediatric and congenital heart disease (University Hospitals Leuven), 19 children from systemic lupus erythematosus mothers and who were born with or developed atrioventricular block were identified. All records were reviewed for disease course and outcome. Results Median follow‐up time was 7 years (interquartile ranges [IQR] 4.5–13 years). One child had no heart block at birth and developed only a first‐degree block during follow‐up. One had a second‐degree heart block and developed a complete heart block. Seventeen patients (89%) were born with a complete heart block. Seventeen patients (89%) needed a definitive pacemaker. In all, epicardial leads were used at first implantation. Eighty‐two percent received their pacemaker in the first year of life. The first battery had a median lifetime of 5 years (IQR 3.5–5 years), the second 6 years (IQR 4.5–6.3 years), and the third 5 years (IQR 5–6 years). Note that 47% of patients needed a lead replacement due to lead problems. Only one pericardial tamponade after pacemaker implantation. No device or lead infections occurred. The left ventricular systolic function at latest follow‐up was normal for all. No patients died. Conclusion In children with heart block born from systemic lupus erythematosus mothers, an early need for pacemaker implantation was documented. The overall battery life was acceptable, but there was a high need for lead replacement. Complication rate was low. Late outcome was good.