Jp. Pfammatter et al., RECURRENT VENTRICULAR-TACHYCARDIA IN ASYMPTOMATIC YOUNG-CHILDREN WITHAN APPARENTLY NORMAL HEART, European journal of pediatrics, 154(7), 1995, pp. 513-517
Ventricular tachycardia without underlying heart disease is rare in in
fancy and childhood. Four young children (median age 8 months at initi
al presentation) with frequently recurrent episodes of asymptomatic an
d self-limiting ventricular tachycardia are reported. By noninvasive i
nvestigation no apparent heart disease has been found in all patients,
Initially three of the four children had been treated with an anti-ar
rhythmic drug. Treatment was soon stopped in two patients for lack of
symptoms and for lack of efficacy of therapy; one patient remained on
beta-blocker therapy, One child did not receive anti-arrhythmic therap
y. After a mean follow up of 32 months all patients continued to be as
ymptomatic despite frequently recurrent episodes of self-limiting vent
ricular tachycardia. Conclusion Ventricular tachycardia in asymptomati
c children with an otherwise normal heart carries a good prognosis. In
vasive investigation (cardiac catheterization with electrophysiologica
l study and right ventricular biopsy) can be withhold, as long as ther
e are no symptoms, For lack of efficiency of anti-arrhythmic drugs in
suppressing ventricular tachycardia in asymptomatic children with appa
rently normal hearts, these patients map be left without therapy but h
ave to be followed closely.