Congenital complete atrioventricular block associated with QT prolongation: Description of a patient with an unusual outcome

Pediatr Cardiol. 2010 Aug;31(6):887-90. doi: 10.1007/s00246-010-9725-6. Epub 2010 May 22.

Abstract

The association of a complete atrioventricular block with long QT syndrome is relatively common and carries a high risk of torsades de pointes (TdP) and sudden death. It is probably due to a downregulation of potassium channel currents (I (Ks) and I (Kr)) that impairs ventricular repolarization, prolongs the QT interval and increases susceptibility to TdP, so it must be considered a channelopathy. This report describes a 6 year-old boy, with a complete atrioventricular block diagnosed at 5 months of age, who at the age of 1 year started having episodes of TdP associated with a prolonged QT interval. He was treated successfully with propranolol and with a pacemaker implant. At age 3 the complete atrioventricular block reversed spontaneously to a first degree atrioventricular block.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Atrioventricular Block / congenital*
  • Atrioventricular Block / physiopathology
  • Atrioventricular Block / therapy
  • Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / methods
  • Electrocardiography*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart Rate / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Time Factors