ADENOSINE-TRIPHOSPHATE TREATMENT FOR SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA IN INFANTS

Adenosine is an endogenous nucleoside acting on coronary perfusion and myocardial conduction. Although the anti-arrhythmic effects of adenos ine have been known for decades, interest in the use of adenosine or a denosine triphosphate (ATP- a precursor of adenosine) in termination o f supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) has been renewed. We studied the use of Striadyne (ATP and a mixture of other nucleosides including ade nosine) in 22 infants younger than 6 months in order to evaluate effic acy and safety of the drug in this particular age group. Striadyne sto pped SVT in 17 cases and was diagnostic in another 4 cases. Ten out of 17 successfully converted infants showed one or more reinitiations of SVT, which were easily controlled. The results support the efficacy o f ATP for the termination of re-entry types of tachycardia, as well as its diagnostic value and its lack of serious side-effects.