ARRHYTHMIA IN EARLY-PREGNANCY - A PREDICTOR OF FIRST-TRIMESTER PREGNANCY LOSS

Objective To determine the prognostic significance of cardiac arrhythm ia detected in the first trimester. Design Cases-in which embryonic ar rhythmia was detected by transvaginal ultrasound between 6 and 9 weeks of gestation were retrospectively identified and reviewed. Results Em bryonic arrhythmia was noted in four of 950 ultrasound examinations. T here was associated ventricular bradycardia in three cases, one of whi ch also had an atrial rate below the normal range for gestational age. No cardiac activity was detected at the follow-up examination 1 week later in three cases. In the other, the embryo was alive but there was severe growth delay and the scan the following week confirmed embryon ic death. Conclusion This report suggests that arrhythmia in early pre gnancy is associated with subsequent pregnancy loss.